Black Caps hit back at India as 16 wickets fall in one day
India stormed back into the second and final Test against New Zealand yesterday, taking all 10 wickets to dismiss the hosts for 235 before extending their slender lead to 97 by the close of play on day two at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
The match remained very much in the balance, however, after the Black Caps ran through India’s top order to reduce the tourists to 90 for six at stumps.
India, already 1-0 down in the series after a thumping 10-wicket defeat in Wellington and under pressure after a final-session batting collapse on day one, needed something
special to get back into the match.
Their bowlers provided it by firing for the first time on this tour, ripping into New Zealand’s top order with seam and swing in the first session and mopping up the tail after some stiff resistance in the second.
Mohammed Shami took four for 81, Jasprit Bumrah finished with three for 62 and spin-bowling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja pitched in with a couple of wickets and an astonishing catch to dismiss Neil Wagner. New Zealand, who resumed on 63 without loss looking to rack up a big lead over India’s first-innings
242, lost their 10 wickets for the addition of just 172 runs.
New Zealand’s attack would have been licking their lips watching the movement the Indians were getting, and they took advantage of the conditions when they got their chance.
None of the Indian top order were able to get a start in the face of a hostile barrage of short bowling. Trent Boult (three for 12) and Tim Southee had already combined to remove openers Mayank Agarwal (three) and Prithvi Shaw (14) when Colin de Grandhomme trapped Virat Kohli lbw for 14, leaving the India captain with 38 runs from four innings.