What an eventual first day of the India vs New Zealand 2nd Test match proved out to be. New Zealand were in firm control at one stage when they reached 197 for 3 minutes before Tea. However, Washington Sundar’s seven back-to-back wickets for 59 runs halted New Zealand’s progress drastically as they were bundled out for 259. In response, the Men in Blue reached 16 for 1 in 11 overs at the close of the India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 1 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 1 Live – Latham, Conway Put on 32 for the First Wicket
New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first on a surface devoid of grass but expected to turn as pointed out in the Pitch Report at Pune. Kiwis made one change as the injured Matt Henry made way to Mitchell Santer in India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 1. India, on the other hand, made three changes as KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohd. Siraj made way for Shubhman Gill, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep, respectively.
Tom Latham opened the account for New Zealand with a clip to square leg for a couple off Jasprit Bumrah on the third ball of the first over. He hit the first boundary too, albeit with an outside edge off Akash Deep in the next over. The ball went past the gully fielder Yashasvi Jaiswal to the fence for four.
Jasprit Bumrah bowled an excellent maiden over after that where he had almost got rid of Devon Conway with a delivery that pitched on leg stump and cut away to narrowly miss the batter’s outside edge.
The next over saw Devon Conway and Tom Latham striking a boundary each off Akash Deep. Conway hit his second boundary in the sixth over as he got an outside edge off Akash Deep that flew between gully and backward point for four.
India Finally Break Through as Ashwin Scalps Latham, Young
Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got the first wicket for India in the 8th over as he trapped Tom Latham leg before wicket for 15 off 22 balls. Will Young and Devon Conway then took New Zealand forward with ones and twos and odd boundaries in between. Both looked comfortable against the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar on a dry surface. However, Ashwin broke the second-wicket stand of 44 runs by having Will Young caught down the leg side by Pant for 18 off 45 balls. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra took New Zealand to 92 for 2 at lunch in India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 1. Conway made 47 off 108 balls and Rachin scored 5 off 13 balls till that point.
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 1, Post-lunch Session Was an Even Affair
Devon Conway smacked Bumrah for three overs in the first over after the post-lunch session. While doing so, he registered his second half-century of the India vs New Zealand Test Series 2024. Conway continued to look dominant as he kept putting away loose deliveries to the fence. Soon the duo put on a 50-run partnership as Conway drove Washington for a couple through the covers, thanks to a rare fumble from Virat Kohli on the field. However, Conway got out on a pretty harmless delivery off Ashwin. The New Zealand opener poked at a delivery that went to Pant behind the stump. Conway smashed 76 off 141 balls with 11 boundaries. The 62-run stand finally ended as Daryl Mitchell arrived at the crease with an eye on consolidating New Zealand’s position.
Rachin Ravindra smacked Ravindra Jadeja for a massive six at long-on, signaling New Zealand’s intent to score runs besides defending good balls on a slow turner in Pune. Just as New Zealand were about to touch the 200-run mark, Rachin Ravindra lost his wicket to Washington Sundar who got one to turn past the outside edge to see the back of New Zealand’s batting mainstay. Rachin scored a brisk 65 off 105 balls, striking four boundaries and a six. Washington then bowled Tom Blundell for 3 to leave New Zealand at 201 for 5 at Tea. An even session where New Zealand scored 109 runs and lost 3 wickets.
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 1, Session 3 – Kiwis Collapse as Sundar Takes a Seven-wicket Haul
India started the final session on a great note as Sundar trapped Daryl Mitchell leg before wicket for 18 off 54 balls. Micthell Santner and Glenn Phiips stitched a useful 32-run partnership before Washington induced a rash shot from the latter as Ashwin took an easy catch at long-off. Soon Sundar got his fifth wicket as he got one to go past the outside edge of Southee to hit the off stump. Then it was the turn of Ajaz Patel to bite the dust as Sundar made the batter played on to the stumps to leave New Zealand reeling at 252 for 9. Seeing the loss of wickets at the other end, Santner decided to take matters into his hands by smashing Ashwin for a massive six over the long-off boundary. However, Sundar soon bowled him out for 33 off 51 as NZ folded to 259 all out. Washington Sundar recorded his career-best figures of 7 for 59.
India Begin on a Bad Note Too as Rohit Departs for a Duck
Responding to New Zealand’s 259, India began on a disastrous note as Rohit Sharma was bowled by Southee for a duck. India skipper was squared up defending the ball that went past his outside edge to crash the stump. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubhman Gill stood not out at 10 and 6, respectively, to take India to 16 for 1 at close on Day 1.
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