Indian cricket team had a near perfect Day 2 against New Zealand. India now have taken 9 wickets of Kiwi batters for 171 runs with the lead 143 runs. Ravindra Jadeja & Ravichandran Ashwin bowled immaculate lines & lengths and got sharp turn from the surface. Ravichandran Ashwin silenced the critics by taking a 3 wicket haul as his variations were quite unplayable and Jadeja took a 4 wicket haul.
Skipper Rohit Sharma marshaled his troops smartly and made sure that the Kiwis aren’t getting easy singles. Ravichandran Ashwin was seen guiding the rookie spinner Washington Sundar as the Kiwi batters used the crease quite smartly. Washington Sundar was targeted by Kiwi batters by playing sweep & reverse sweep shots.
Rishabh Pant & Shubman Gill display attacking brand of cricket in Morning Session
India’s score at the end of Day 1 was 80-4. Rishabh Pant was seen stepping down the track against Ajaz Patel in the very first over and asserted the dominance. Rishabh Pant & Shubman Gill both were dropped on 47 & 45 and the catches were dropped in the fielders in long on & long off by Mark Chapman (*of Shubman Gill) & Matt Henry (*of Rishabh Pant).
Black Caps’ skipper Tom Latham set defensive fielding which was quite questionable as there were more than 4 fielders in the deep. The leg spinner Ish Sodhi got the massive wicket of Rishabh Pant and trapped him LBW on 60 runs. Ish Sodhi despite being the premier spinner was introduced in the last by Tom Latham.
At the end of morning session, India’s score was 195-5 in 43 overs and Shubman Gill was looking in fine touch and had smashed an invaluable half century at that time. Indian batters’ made sure that they don’t play a string of dot balls and made life harder for Kiwi bowlers.
New Zealand make a comeback but India get a slender lead in Afternoon Session
Ajaz Patel & Glenn Phillips were seen bowling a bit good length deliveries and created different angles to perturb the batters. Daryl Mitchell took 3 brilliant catches in the first slip of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin & Shubman Gill. Shubman Gill played a staggering knock of 90 runs in 146 balls and smashed 7 fours and 1 six and would rue that he couldn’t get to a well deserving ton on a rank turner.
Washington Sundar played a whirlwind cameo of 38 runs in 36 balls and struck 4 fours and 2 sixes and helped India get a lead of 28 runs. Washington Sundar is proving to be a terrific all-rounder for India as his lower-order contribution with the bat can prove to be decisive in the outcome of the Test match. Ajaz Patel took a 5 wicket haul and showed good control in the afternoon session
New Zealand’s skipper Tom Latham was bowled in the very first over by Akash Deep. Devon Conway & Will Young made sure that there are no more hiccups before the end of afternoon session. Kiwis scored 26 runs in 9 overs and lost 1 wicket and the surface was slowly becoming a mine-field.
Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja run riot Kiwi batters
Devon Conway was seen a bit struggling against the spin the evening session. Washington Sundar’s was hitting the good length consistenly and he took the priced wicket of Conway as he gave an easy catch in the second slip to Shubman Gill. There were high hopes from Rachin Ravindra to get a big score but he was outplayed by Ravichandran Ashwin as Rachin went for a glorious shot down the track and was stumped.
All of a sudden New Zealand’s score was 44-3 and the team believed in them that they can wrap up Black Caps’ batting line up. Daryl Mitchell & Will Young steadied the ship and were smashing an odd boundary and notched up a 50 runs partnership. Dary Mitchell wanted to clear Ravichandran Ashwin who was standing a bit ahead from long on but he took a breath-taking catch and Jadeja took the huge wicket of Daryl Mitchell who was dismissed for 21 runs in 44 balls as he struck 1 four and 1 six.
The wicket of Daryl Mitchell triggered a collapse for Kiwis as they were reduced to 131-6. Glenn Phillips was bamboozled by Ravichandran Ashwin’s carrom ball and he was bowled. Phillips had scored quick-fire 26 runs in 14 balls and struck 3 sixes and 1 four. Will Young smashed a magnificent half century but the batter was outdone by Ravindra Jadeja who took a return catch.
Indian spinners weren’t afraid of getting smashed for boundaries as they kept on giving flight to ball and extra air to deceive the batter. Just in the last over of Day 2, Ravindra Jadeja cleaned up Matt Henry as New Zealand’s score was 171-9 in 43.3 overs and effectively they have a lead of 143 runs with 1 wicket left.
What Lies Ahead on Day 3
India would be pumped up given how Day 2 has panned out for the hosts as they have a strong chance of winning the Test match. The pitch has turned out to be a mine-field but the morning session can help the batters as there’s some bright sunshine. Rohit Sharma would be eyeing to quickly take the 10th wicket and not allow the target to go beyond 160 runs.
New Zealand would be utterly disappointed given the fact that there was ample time left in the Test match. All eyes will be on Ajaz Patel and William ORourke who need to add another 30 odd runs to the total. It won’t be wrong to say that the wicket of Will Young has changed the course of the match as he was well set and looking ominous.
During the run chase, the opening partnership will be very much crucial as short & effective knocks of 30 odd runs will be priceless. Given the way, the surface is spinning & bouncing; New Zealand have a chance but we should not forget that India has a very long batting line up and most likely it looks like India will win unless a dramatic collapse happens on Day 3 of 3rd Test match.