Wellington: New Zealand took a 51-run lead over the visiting India by the end of Saturday’s game on the second day of the first Test match being played at the Basin Reserve ground here. The last session of the day could not be completed due to poor lighting and stumps were announced ahead of time.
New Zealand’s score was 216 for 5 at the time of stopping the game. Ishant Sharma took three wickets while bowling brilliantly for India. At the same time, Kiwi bowlers piled on India for 165 runs in the first innings. Captain Ken Williamson scored 89 runs. Ross Taylor contributed 44 runs.
Williamson faced 153 balls and hit 11 fours in his innings. Taylor, who missed a half-century by six runs, hit a six in addition to six fours. BJ Watling 14 and Colleen de Grandhom are playing for four runs until stumps.
Earlier, India extended their first innings on the second day by 122 runs at the loss of five wickets. Rishabh Pant, who returned unbeaten on the first day, succumbed to a misunderstanding in taking runs and was run out. He scored 19 runs off 53 balls. In his innings, Pant hit a four and a six.
Pant’s wicket fell at a total score of 132. On the very next ball, Tim Southee sent Ravichandran Ashwin to the pavilion without opening the account. Ajinkya Rahane, who stood at one end, did not allow Saudi to complete the half-century. Rahane was dismissed for 46 on a total score of 143. The right-handed batsman faced 138 balls and hit five fours.
In the end, Mohammed Shami scored 21 off 20 balls with the help of three fours. Ishant Sharma contributed five runs. Ishant’s wicket was taken by Kyle Jameson and Saudi took the wicket of Shami to end the Indian innings.
Jameson and Saudi took four wickets each for the Kiwi team. Bolt had a breakthrough. A batsman was run out.