Black Caps set for daunting run chase
New Zealand’s spin trio had a strong first session yesterday, but India remain in the box seat in the first test in Kanpur.
Mitchell Santner, Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi picked up a wicket each as the hosts lost three wickets and added just 93 runs to their overnight total of 159-1 in 34 overs at Green Park Stadium.
It could have been ever better, as well, had Luke Ronchi or Kiwi captain Kane Williamson held one of two chances to remove Ajinkya Rahane with 20 minutes left in the session.
The reality for the Black Caps after a horror third day, though, was they would come out to chase a monumentally difficult target on a pitch playing all sorts of tricks for a world-class Indian spin duo.
The home team were expected to try and push their lead out to beyond 400 before sending New Zealand back out to face the music against Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who combined for nine wickets in the Black Caps’ first innings.
Earlier yesterday, Mitchell Santner and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi had got the Black Caps off to a tidy start.
They kept things tight and conceded just 27 runs in a 10-over stretch that was capped off with the wicket of Murali Vijay for a stylish 76.
The Indian opener looked puzzled at the decision, but there was no doubt as Santner expertly got the ball to drift in, straighten just enough and crash into the front pad before taking the edge of the bat.
That brought captain Virat Kohli to the crease and he was afforded a couple of early chances to get his innings under way by Sodhi and then Craig, who had come on to replace him.
But it was not completely convincing from the superstar batsman and a flashing drive off Santner that flew off the edge through backward point for four that took the score to 200 kept the Kiwis interested.
They kept plugging away and five overs later were rewarded with another soft dismissal for Kohli as he top-edged a slog sweep right down Sodhi’s throat at deep mid-wicket to be out for 18 after making just nine in the first innings.
A further three overs passed before it was undoubtedly the Black Caps morning when Sodhi came around the wicket to the right-handed Pujara on 78 and induced an edge from outside legstump through to Ross Taylor at slip.
From 228-3, Sharma joined Rahane and they navigated the remaining 11 overs until three without any further damage.
Craig had been unlucky when Ronchi at short-leg and Williamson and short mid-wicket had both been unable to grasp takeable catches to dismiss Rahane, but it was still very much advantage India.