Christchurch: India bowled New Zealand for 235 in the first innings on the second day of the second cricket Test here on Sunday, on the second day of the second cricket Test, but the batsmen of the visiting team once again disappointed.
India, who had a seven-run lead on the basis of the first innings, lost six wickets for 90 runs in the second innings until the end of the second day’s play. India’s total lead is 97 runs. At the end of the day’s play, Hanuma Vihari was playing with five runs while Rishabh Pant was scoring one run.
In the second innings, Trent Boult (3 for 13) got the ball moving and kept the Indian batsmen in constant trouble. Tim Southee (one wicket for 20), Neil Wagner (one wicket for 18 runs) and Colin de Grandhom (one wicket for three runs) also supported him well. The second day at Hegli Oval was completely named after the bowlers with 16 wickets for 262 runs. New Zealand lost all their 10 while India lost six wickets.
Earlier, New Zealand were dismissed for 235 in the first innings. For New Zealand, opener Tom Latham scored the highest score of 52 while Kyle Jamieson scored 49 runs. Shami (four wickets for 81 runs), Bumrah (three wickets for 62 runs) and Ravindra Jadeja (two wickets for 22 runs) bowled brilliantly.
India also had a poor start in the second innings. Boult made Mayank Agarwal (03) LBW in the second over of the innings. After scoring 14 runs, Prithvi Shaw also gave easy catch to Latham at slip on Saudi’s bouncer. Captain Virat Kohli (14) once again did not appear in rhythm. He hit two fours on Jamieson after opening the account with fours on Saudi but was completely missed by Grandhomme’s straight ball.
Cheteshwar Pujara (24) and Rahane (09) then briefly halted the collapse of the wickets. Rahane, however, was lucky on a two-run score when Grandhomm was caught by Wagner at deep square leg. Rahane, however, did not look comfortable at the crease and returned to the pavilion, playing Wagner’s ball on wickets. Pujara also bowled after Boult’s fast inward ball, while the fast bowler also bowled nightwatchman Umesh Yadav (01).
India had put New Zealand to 177 for eight and the team was close to taking a solid lead in the first innings but Jamieson and Wagner (21) added 51 runs for the ninth wicket to shift the innings to the visiting team’s intentions.
Jadeja broke the partnership by taking a deep catch of deep midwicket wagner just before tea. Like the first session, India took five wickets in the second session. After lunch, Bumrah sent BJ Watling (00) and Tim Southee (00) to the pavilion early.
Jadeja then bowled Grandhom (26). Wagner and Jamieson then kept Indian bowlers from success for almost 12 overs. However, Jamieson missed his first Test half-century by just one run.
Indian bowlers dominated the morning session. Latham played a battling innings of 52 off 122 balls but he never looked in rhythm in the morning and Bumrah troubled him a lot. The fast bowling trio of Shami, Bumrah and Umesh Yadav bowled from the right line and length. Umesh gave India the first success by lbw to Tom Blundell (30). Bumrah then caught New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (03) at the hands of wicketkeeper Pant. Ross Taylor (15) also lost patience in front of accurate bowling.