Agarwal leads India’s fightback against New Zealand

MUMBAI, (Reuters) - India opener Mayank Agarwal hit a gritty hundred to rescue the hosts after New Zealand leftarm spinner Ajaz Patel had put them in a spot of bother with three quick wickets on the weather-hit first day of the second and final test yesterday.

Agarwal remained unbeaten on 120 after completing his fourth test hundred to help India reach 221 for four wickets at stumps with wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha keeping him company on 25 not out at the Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai-born Patel, whose parents immigrated to New Zealand in 1996, picked up all four wickets on a track aiding the spinners to finish with figures of four for 73.

After the first session was wiped out due to a wet outfield, Agarwal and Shubman Gill gave their side a solid start with an opening stand of 80 following captain Virat Kohli’s decision to bat having won the toss.

Patel gave New Zealand the breakthrough by dismissing Gill for 44 when the batter edged a delivery to the lone slip.

The 33-year-old Patel returned in his next over to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli before they had opened their accounts, much to the disappointment of the few hundreds present at the ground which overlooks the Arabian Sea.

Kohli, who returned to the side to lead India after being rested for the threematch Twenty20 series and the first test in Kanpur, reviewed the leg before wicket decision unsuccessfully and trudged off after a chat with the on-field umpires.

Television replays were inconclusive in showing if he had hit the ball before Patel’s delivery struck his pad.

From 80 for no loss, India were reduced to 80-3 and it was left to Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer, who made a dream test debut in Kanpur with a first-innings 105 followed by a crucial 65 in the second, to launch the fightback for the hosts.

The duo added 80 for the fourth wicket to rebuild the innings before Iyer fell on 18 to become Patel’s fourth scalp.

“Obviously this is kind of what dreams are made of,” Patel told reporters. “So to be out here (in Mumbai) and to go out there and pick up four wickets in the first day, it’s pretty special.

“At the same time the job is only half done, so we’ve got to make sure we turn up tomorrow and then really work hard for the last six wickets.”