India began Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington at 122/5. In under a session the Kiwis had taken India’s last five wickets with just 43 runs added to the overnight score.
Rishabh Pant (19 off 53 balls) was the first to fall in the morning, being run out after a bad call from his batting partner Ajinkya Rahane.
The very next ball saw Tim Southee sending Ravichandran Ashwin back to the hut with a great outswinger.
Four overs later, Rahane departed, falling just four runs short of a half century. Mohammed Shami frustrated the Kiwi bowlers for a little while but it wasn’t long before the hosts wrapped up the Indian innings, bowling Virat Kohli’s men out for a meagre 165.
New Zealand began their innings steadily with the two Toms – Latham and Blundell. It was the eleventh over before Ishant finally got the breakthrough, getting rid of Latham (11 off 30 balls).
The Kiwis had a pretty solid session and a half in the morning and till tea.
While India did manage a couple of wickets, steady knocks by Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson (89 off 153 balls) and Ross Taylor (44 off 71 balls) meant that the hosts remained in a fairly comfortable position.
It was when a great ball by Ishant dismissed Taylor after tea that India began to claw their way back into the match.
Three wickets for Ishant (Latham, Taylor and Williamson), a great spell by Jasprit Bumrah and a wicket apiece for Ashwin and Shami meant that New Zealand finished the day at 216/5.
While India managed a late fightback, it remained advantage New Zealand who will go into Day 3 with a 51 run lead and 5 wickets still remaining.
