India catch up to Black Caps
A fired up Virat Kohli and accurate Indian fast bowling effort has left the second test evenly poised.
Completely outclassed in the first test, India hauled themselves off the canvas at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval yesterday.
New Zealand began the day in a strong position at 63-0 in response to India’s 242, but faltered badly with the bat.
It was all India on day two with New Zealand dismissed for 235, losing 10 wickets for 172 runs on day two to give India a seven-run first innings lead.
India’s day was summed up by a brilliant one-hand grab in the outfield from Ravindra Jadeja to get rid of Neil Wagner, a contender for any best catch competition.
Quick bowlers Mohammed Shami (4-81) and Jasprit Bumrah (3-62) led the way for India in a vastly improved bowling performance from the first test.
Skipper Kohli sparked his side, barking loudly when New Zealand opposite Kane Williamson left for three. Kohli then took a controversial catch low to the ground at second slip to remove Henry Nicholls for 14.
The Indian megastar also had a running battle with one section of the crowd and was shown on TV cameras appearing to say ‘shut up’ with an expletive.
Nicholls pushed at a ball outside off stump and edged to Kohli, who snaffled the difficult chance.
The Cantabrian was given out on-field with the decision sent upstairs for clarification.
Third umpire Aleem Dar ruled Kohli’s fingers were underneath the ball, not having enough evidence to overturn the soft signal.
Kyle Jamieson and Wagner did their best to edge New Zealand closer to India’s first innings score, putting on 51 for the ninth wicket.
Wagner went to a screamer from Jadeja, who pulled in a stunning left hand grab leaping up, running around at deep square leg.
Jamieson, an opener at schoolboy level, backed up his 44 on debut at the Basin Reserve with another impressive batting effort, contributing 49.
India desperately needed to fire in the opening session on day two and step up they did, snaring five wickets to haul themselves back into the test.
New Zealand collapsed to be 142-5 at lunch. India were firmly on top when star quick Bumrah, who had been unspectacular on this New Zealand tour, captured two wickets in three balls.
In the third over after lunch, Bumrah had BJ Watling well caught by Jadeja at point as he looked to drive.
Tim Southee then disappeared two balls later fending through to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, putting New Zealand in strife at 153-7.
Colin de Grandhomme scored freely, trying to chip into the deficit, but he fell to a beauty from leftarm spinner Jadeja, who got one to go past the outside edge and take off stump.
Jadeja captured two wickets and was handy as India’s fourth bowler, showing spinners can be of use at Hagley Oval.
New Zealand had taken just two wickets with spin in six tests at Hagley and opted not to play leftarm spinner Ajaz Patel for this test.
Shami made the key breakthrough 22 minutes before lunch removing Tom Latham for 52.
India made a brilliant start to the day, picking up two wickets inside the first half hour.
Tom Blundell was the first to go, removed for 30, the same score he made in the first innings in Wellington.
Blundell went in the third over of the morning, struck in front of his stumps by Umesh Yadav.
He was caught on the crease and reviewed the on-field decision of out, but was sent on his way.
It went from good to great for India shortly after when Bumrah, who has had an underwhelming tour of New Zealand, captured the pivotal wicket of Williamson.
Williamson pushed at one outside off stump and got an outside edge through to Pant, leaving New Zealand 69-2.
INDIA
First innings
P Shaw c Latham b Jamieson ............... 52 M Agarwal lbw b Boult ................................ 7 C Pujara c Watling b Jamieson ............ 54 V Kohli lbw b Southee ................................. 3 A Rahane c Taylor b Southee .................. 7 H Vihari c Watling b Wagner ................. 55 R Pant b Jamieson ...................................... 12 R Jadeja c Boult b Jamieson .................... 9 U Yadav c Watling b Jamieson .............. 0 M Shami b Boult ........................................... 16 J Bumrah not out ........................................ 10 Extras (b 4, lb 6, w 5) ................................. 15 Total ................................................................ 242 Fall: 1-30 (Agarwal), 2-80 (Shaw), 3-85 (Kohli) , 4-113 (Rahane), 5-194 (Vihari), 6-197 (Pujara), 7-207 (Pant) , 8-207 (Yadav) 9-216 (Jadeja), 10-242 (Shami). Bowling: T Southee 13- 5- 38- 2; T Boult 17-2-89-2, C de Grandhomme 9-2-31-0, K Jamieson 14-3-45-5, N Wagner 10-2-29-1.
NEW ZEALAND
First innings
T Latham b Shami ........................................ 52 T Blundell lbw Yadav .................................. 30 K Wiklliamson c Pant b Bumrah .............. 3 R Taylor c Yadav b Jadeja ......................... 15 H NIcholls c Kohli b Shami ....................... 14 B Watling c Jadeja b Bumrah ................... 0 C de Grandhomme b Jadeja .................. 26 T Southee b Pant b Bumrah ..................... 0 K Jamieson c Pant b Bumrah ................ 49 N Wagner c Jadeja b Shami ..................... 21 T Boult not out .................................................. 1 Extras (b20 lb4) ............................................ 24 Total .................................................................. 235 Fall: 66 (Blundell), 69 (Williamson), 109 (Taylor), 130 (Latham), 133 (Nicholls), 153 (Watling), 153 (Southee), 177 (de Grandhomme), 228 (Wagner), 235 (Jamieson).
Bowling: J Bumrah 22-5-62-3, U Yadav 18-2-46-1, M Shami 23.1-3-81-4, R Jadeja 10-2-22-2.
Latham and Ross Taylor briefly consolidated, adding 40 for the third wicket.
Just when it looked like New Zealand had done the hard work, getting through the quicks to begin day two, Taylor made an error of judgement.
Jadeja drew a leading edge from Taylor, who attempted to work it into the leg side.
He only succeeded in sending it to Yadav at backward point, who ran around to take a smart catch.
It was an uncharacteristic mistake from senior statesman Taylor, who had got through to 15 from 37 balls. Latham had been New Zealand’s first innings rock, but he too perished 22 minutes before lunch for 52.