INDIANS
UNABLE TO MATCH KIWIS’ PACE
India's vaunted batting line-up failed to
recover from the early blows dealt by New Zealand's concerted bowling effort
and wobbled to 239 for 7 on the opening day of the second cricket Test here on
Friday.
Barring Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77), none of
the batsmen came good after skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat on the relaid
pitch of the historic Eden Gardens stadium, hosting India's 250th home Test.
Ravindra Jadeja (0) and Wriddhiman Saha (14) were holding fort for
the home side when stumps were drawn at the end of the 87th over due to bad
light.
The Kiwis, who were dealt a blow this morning when regular skipper
and top batsman Kane Williamson was ruled out of match owing to illness, showed
tremendous resilience to put up a fine first day show.
Medium-pacer Matt Henry was the Black Caps top wicket-taker with a
haul of 3/35 in his miserly 15 overs, while off-spinner Jeetan Patel, brought
into the side due to the injury-forced exit of Mark Craig, chipped in with two
wickets.
India, who will regain the top spot in ICC rankings if they seal
the three-match series in this match, did not make a very good start and lost
their top-three batsmen even before the score had touched 50.
Pujara and Rahane's dogged fourth-wicket stand of 141 was the high
point for India today.
For the in-form Pujara, it was his third half-century from as many
innings but a lapse in concentration ended his patient innings for 87 that came
off 219 deliveries and was studded with 17 hits to the fence.
From being 46/3 in a jittery first session, Pujara and Rahane
batted with grit and determination under the blazing afternoon heat and
energy-sapping humidity. The duo's stand spanned three hours and nine minutes
but the Kiwis made an impact in the final session snapping four wickets.
Pujara was set up brilliantly by left-arm pacer Neil Wagner, who
put a short cover for him, and the Indian holed out to Martin Guptill.
However, it was not a good day at his favourite ground for Rohit
Sharma (2), who was dismissed by Patel. The right-hander also looked to have
hurt his left shoulder while attempting a single.
For the Kiwis, it was a tale of two comeback men as first
24-year-old Henry (3/35), who had replaced their pace spearhead Tim Southee
created quite a flutter by removing both the openers -- Shikhar Dhawan (1) and
Murali Vijay (9).
Off the second ball of his first over, Henry bowled Dhawan who
tried to cut in an angled delivery only to drag the ball back to his stumps.
Replacing Lokesh Rahul, Dhawan's stint lasted just 10 balls with scorecard
reading 1/1 in the second over. Vijay also perished to a beauty from the
youngster playing only his fifth Test.
Continuing a rare lean patch, skipper Kohli (9) was steadying the
ship with a set Pujara, but Trent Boult (1/33) dismissed the skipper.
Kohli got carried away after an exquisite cover drive that was
cheered by the small turnout and went for an IPL-like shot chasing a ball way
outside the off-stump to be caught brilliantly by Tom Latham.
The dismissal less than half an before the lunch break disturbed
India's recovery plan before Pujara and Rahane held firm in the second session.
Pujara, who played a crucial role with his 62 and 78 in the Kanpur Test, again
showed the kind of application needed with his team off a bad start.
After aiding seam movement and offering variable bounce in the
morning, the pitch turned slower on a sultry afternoon, offering occasional
turn. However Pujara and Rahane batted sensibly to resurrect the innings. They
were never in a hurry and played according to the merit of the ball, collecting
timely boundaries in the process.
Giving him an able support at the other end was Rahane, who hit 11
fours in his 157-ball stay at the crease. Rahane's resolute knock came to and
end when Patel trapped him LBW with India exactly at 200.
Down the order, Ravichandran Ashwin played a useful knock of 26
that was laced with four hits to the boundary.
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