New Zealand dominated the second day of the second Test match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Kiwis first skittle out India for 156, buoyed by an inspired bowling performance from left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner who took seven wickets for 53 runs. Ravindra Jadeja top scored for India with a brisk 38 off 46, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill put on 30 each. The biggest disappointment was Virat Kohli who departed for just one, stunning the crowd gathered to witness India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2 in Pune. New Zealand, in their second innings, have galloped to 198 for 5, gaining a healthy lead of 301 runs. Tom Latham was the chief contributor with 86.
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2 Live
New Zealand began with Mitchell Santner, and he nearly got Blackcaps the first wicket of the day as the umpire’s call saved Shubman Gill from a close LBW shout. The next ball saw Gill scoring the first run in India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal picked the first boundary of the day by steering Tim Southee through the extra cover region. More confidence for India as Shubman slapped Southee down the ground for a maximum. As India reached 50, Santner dismissed Shubman as the right-hander was found plumb LBW to a quicker delivery from the left-arm spinner.
NZ Make Further Inroads, Pick Up 5 More Wickets to Cap Off a Superb First Session
Yashasvi despatched Ajaz Patel for a boundary through extra cover to kick off the partnership between him and Virat Kohli on a good note. However, Santner gave India shivers by dismissing the talismanic Virat Kohli for just one run. Virat missed a low full toss in an attempt to hit across the line to see his stumps take a beating. India were suddenly reduced to 56 for 3 from 50 for 1. New Zealand were all over India as pressure mounted on Men in Blue.
Rishabh Pant came and smashed a boundary the second he faced off Santner. Just as the pair looked comfortable against spin, Glenn Philips came and induced an outside edge of Jaiswal that went to Daryl Mitchell at first slip. Jaiswal could not cover the turn and that accounted for his downfall.
If not for a dropped catch by Mitchell, Santner would have had Sarfaraz Khan for 1. However, Philips took another wicket and that of Rishabh Pant to leave India reeling at 83 for 5. The left-hander looked to pull a delivery that kept low and went on to disturb the timber. Pant was absolutely aghast by the dismissal as he kicked the turf in disgust.
Sarfaraz could not maximise the reprieve given earlier as he failed to execute the inside-out shot over extra cover off Mitchell Santner. The bottom edge meant the ball went to William ORourke at mid-off. More trouble for India as Santner trapped Ravichandran Ashwin leg before wicket to keep India at 107 for 7 at Lunch.
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2, Post-lunch Session – Kiwis Bundle Out India for 156
India came out with an intent to counterattack the Kiwi bowlers as Ravindra Jadeja smashed two fours and two sixes in five overs after the lunch interval. However, his daredevil ended as Santner deceived him with a turn to trap the Saurashtra lad leg before wicket. Jadeja made 38 off 46 balls. Akash Deep, after smashing Santner for a maximum, was bowled as the ball turned and kept low to hit the stump. Washington Sundar, understandably, looked to reduce the deficit by smacking Ajaz Patel for a four and six before Santner got his 7th-wicket haul by trapping Jasprit Bumrah leg before wicket for a duck. India got all out for a paltry 156, conceding New Zealand a massive first-innings lead of 103 runs.
NZ Start Well as Latham, Conway Press on the Accelerator in Second Innings
New Zealand started well as Tom Latham and Devon Conway started attacking the Indian bowlers to build on to that massive 103-run lead. However, the first-innings hero for India with the ball on Day 1 i.e. Washington Sundar scalped Conway as the left-handed missed the ball while playing a sweep shot and was found in front of the wicket. He scored 17 off 25 balls, hitting two boundaries. The partnership stood for 36 runs. Latham then found an able ally in Will Young. Together they took New Zealand to 78 before Ravichandran Ashwin trapped the latter leg before wicket for 23. Kiwis reached 85 for 2 at Tea in India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2 in Pune.
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2, Final Session – Washington Continues to Pick Wickets as Kiwis Look to Force the Issue
Soon after the Tea break, Washington Sundar bowled Rachin Ravindra on a length delivery that skidded off the deck to disturb the furniture. New Zealand were 89 for 3 after the loss of Rachin. Daryl Mitchell arrived and showed his intentions to score runs quickly in the company of Latham, who scored a superb half-century. However, in a bid for quick runs, Daryl didn’t check his down-the-ground shot despite not reaching the pitch of the ball, resulting in an easy catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal at long-on.
Tom Blundell came and survived a close caught behind appeal first up. However, he soon steadied himself in the company of his skipper. Both of them found boundaries in between to motor Kiwis along to the position of ascendency. Latham brought up the 50-run stand between him and Blundell by tucking Bumrah for a couple behind square. They continued to fight despite some close and anxious moments as balls kept misbehaving off the surface. However, Sundar removed Tom Latham for 86 as the latter missed out on a sweep shot and the ball went on to hit him on the back leg. Glenn Philips and Tom Blundell then took Kiwis to 198 for 5, staying unbeaten at 9 and 30, respectively, and taking the overall lead to 301 runs at the close of India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2.
