Match report & analysis
Kyle Jamieson is making test cricket look pretty darn easy. The 25-year-old justified New Zealand’s decision to stick with him for the second test against India in Christchurch yesterday, taking his first fivewicket bag in test cricket.
New Zealand stewed over whether to hand a second test to Jamieson or go with left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel on a green seamer at Hagley Oval, but stuck with Jamieson.
He repaid their faith in spades, powering through the Indian batsmen in the final session. Jamieson captured 5-45 from 14 overs as India were rolled for 242 in 63 overs to put New Zealand in early control of the second test.
New Zealand capped off a convincing first day, finishing 63-0 from 23 overs in reply at stumps.
It was far from a polished bowling performance from New Zealand, especially in the first session, but Jamieson was superb as India lost wickets at key stages throughout the day. India were 194-5 at tea, but lost their last five wickets for 48 runs.
Backing up his 4-39 from the first innings in Wellington on test debut, Jamieson, whose domestic career started with Canterbury, starred again at his former Hagley home.
The Auckland man could do little wrong in the final session, snaring four wickets as India fell apart with the bat.
Jamieson has taken nine wickets for 129 runs at 14.3 through three innings of test cricket and been a headache for India.
The rot started with mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara, who was out softly to Jamieson, hooking a top edge up to wicketkeeper BJ Watling. Pujara had batted patiently getting through to 54, but threw his wicket away in reckless fashion.
Rishabh Pant played attacking strokes and had a life when he
was dropped by Colin de Grandhomme at midwicket. His luck ran out when he chopped on off Jamieson, departing for 12.
Jamieson wasn’t done there and made further inroads with Ravindra Jadeja caught at fine leg and Umesh Yadav caught behind.
Earlier in the day, Tim
Southee again proved Indian superstar and captain Virat
Kohli’s nemesis.
No bowler in world cricket has captured Kohli’s wicket more in all formats than senior paceman Southee, who nabbed the Indian great for the 10th time.
Southee produced a defining moment in India’s first innings, trapping Kohli plumb in front of his stumps for three in the second over after lunch.
New dad Neil Wagner ended a pesky 81-run partnership between Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, dismissing Vihari with what proved the final ball before tea.
Kohli wasted India’s last remaining review with a decision that was never going to be overturned earlier in the second session.
Kohli has made most bowlers look silly throughout his illustrious career, but yesterday’s scalp was the 10th time Southee has taken his wicket in 31 matches.
England veteran James Anderson and retired offspinner Graeme Swann both captured Kohli eight times.
This was the third time in five tests Southee has removed Kohli. The right-arm quick has also got rid of Kohli six times in 20 ODIs and once in six T20s.
Kohli, who hasn’t brought up a century in 21 innings in all formats, has endured a rough tour of New Zealand.
His failure in Christchurch means he’s scored 204 runs on this tour at 20.4, well below what is expected of the world’s premier batsman.
In the first test in Wellington, Kohli contributed just two and 19 in India’s 10-wicket thumping.
It got worse for India with Southee striking again eight overs later, dismissing Ajinkya Rahane, who edged to Ross Taylor at first slip for seven.
India looked like they were fighting back through Pujara and Vihari, but then Wagner struck as he so often does.
Wagner won the battle of attrition with Vihari, gloving a short ball through to Watling for 55. Watling had dropped Vihari on 13 off Jamieson.
India undid their good work from the first session after lunch as New Zealand seized the ascendancy.
Arriving in Christchurch 1-0 up in the two-test series, skipper
Kane Williamson won the toss on a green seamer. After being dismissed for under 200 in both innings in Wellington, India’s batsmen started positively.
New Zealand’s seamers struggled early on, battling for their line and length and tossing up too many short deliveries.
India got through six overs unscathed until Trent Boult made the first breakthrough, removing Mayank Agarwal lbw for seven.
Agarwal reviewed the decision, but was sent on his way with Boult’s full swinging delivery hitting leg stump.
Highly-rated youngster Prithvi Shaw showed his intent early, getting the better of the New Zealand bowlers and keeping the scoreboard ticking over – something which didn’t happen in Wellington.
Shaw had been impressive getting through to 54 from 64 balls until Jamieson struck with a crucial blow 16 minutes prior to lunch.
Tom Latham pulled off a stunning one-handed left hand grab at second slip to end Shaw’s promising innings, which included eight fours and a six.
That would be just the very start for Jamieson.