Courtesy: BCCI
On day two of the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the New Zealand pacers blew away the highly accomplished Indian batting lineup for just 46 runs in their first innings. Matt Henry picked up a five-wicket haul for New Zealand, while Will O’Rourke took four wickets before their batters reached 180/3 at the close of play on day two, to help the team take a substantial 134-run lead in the first innings.
For the unversed, after winning the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma decided to bat first in overcast conditions on day two with three spinners in their playing XI after yesterday’s play was completely washed out due to rain. Within the first 10 overs itself, India lost the wickets of captain Rohit Sharma (2), Virat Kohli (0), and Sarfaraz Khan (0) before Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant tried to resurrect their innings.
New Zealand score 180/3 in 50 overs at close of play on day two of first Test vs India
After a 21-run partnership between Jaiswal (13 off 63) and Rishabh Pant (20 off 49), the Indian batting lineup fell away like a pack of cards as they were bowled out for their lowest total in home Tests. In response, New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway stitched together a 67-run stand for the first wicket, to put India firmly on the backfoot in the Test match.
The Indian fielders weren’t quite at their best either as they dropped catches and missed run outs, while Rishabh Pant was taken off the field due to a knee injury after he failed to execute a stumping behind the stumps as the ball struck him on his body. Devon Conway, who was also involved in a vital 75-run stand for the second wicket with Will Young, batted aggressively right throughout his innings, scoring 91 off 105 with 11 fours and three maximums.
At the close of play on day two, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell were at the crease for New Zealand after surviving a tough few overs in the last half hour as the clouds came around and the flood lights were lit at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
