After a comprehensive win back in Bengaluru, New Zealand came to Pune with 1-0 lead on host India. Opting to bat first, visitors put up 259 on the board. A good start from top order laid the foundation for a big score to which New Zealand couldn’t capitalize. Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar led the attrition on Kiwis taking 3 and 7 wickets respectively.
Kiwis were without Kane Williamson and Matt Henry, both missing this game due to injuries. India replaced 3 of its players- KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Md Siraj with Shubhman Gill, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep. On a surface drier than that of Bengaluru, Kiwis planned to score big and push India (in 4th innings) on a sandpit of a pitch.
Jasprit Bumrah began with the new ball and openers- Tom Latham and Devon Conway tackled the new ball cautiously. The pitch didn’t have much for pacers as well. Spinners are deciding factors on pitches like these and Ravi Ashwin did exactly the same. Ashwin took first 3 wickets of NZ. First session was even between both sides as none dominated the other. New Zealand had few good partnerships, but all of them failed to make it big. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scored brilliant half centuries. Ravindra continues to impress on Indian soil. He had an excellent World Cup last year, century in first test and half century here in Pune.
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NZ’s plunge came after Sundar trapped Ravindra in latter stages of the second session. He also got Tom Blundell right before the tea break. In the final session, Sundar ran through NZ’s middle order, bundling out the visitors in a matter of an hour. He finished with figures of 59-7 in 23.1 overs, claiming his first wicket haul in Test cricket. This was his return to the Test setup, marking it a memorable comeback. New Zealand was all out for 259 runs in 79.1 overs. Unlike Bengaluru, India did manage to get rid of tailenders quickly as Sundar was unplayable. Such dominant spells usually come from Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja. Sundar was as a surprise. This was also the first instance when Indian off-spinners took all the 10 wickets in an innings.
Sundar dismantles New Zealand’s middle order
India batted for only 11 overs, and lost captain Rohit Sharma for a 9-ball duck. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubhman Gill played safe to end the first day at 16-1 in 11 overs. Yashasvi is not out at 6(25) and Gill at 10(32) with players like Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan yet to come. India trails New Zealand by 243 runs at the end of today’s play.
Tim Southee trapped Rohit Sharma 4th time in Tests, the latter averages only 12.75 against him. Southee has taken the wicket of Rohit 14 times (joint most) in international cricket, equalling Kagiso Rabada.
With day 1 finished, the kind of spin bowling we have seen today. This match will be a nightmare for batters by day 4. New Zealand would regret on not being able to consolidate the start it had. It could have given them Bengaluru like advantage on India.
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(Input from the agencies)
