Hosts reduce NEW ZEALAND to 171 for 9 in second innings at stumps on Day 2
Mumbai, Nov 2: Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant scored half-centuries in contrasting styles while Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin shared seven wickets between them as India reached a strong position in the third Test against New Zealand from where they can avoid a clean sweep in the ongoing series.
At stumps on the second day, India reduced New Zealand to 171/9, a lead of 143 with just one wicket remaining as they fought their way back into the match from a difficult 86/4 at the end of the first day.
It was Gill and Pant that revived India’s chances in the morning with a 96-run partnership as they reached their half-centuries in contrasting style — Pant racing it with his fifty off 36 balls, the fastest by an Indian batter against New Zealand while Gill offered some much needed stability whilst scoring a patient 90
On another engrossing day at the Wankhede Stadium in the hot and humid conditions, the game ebbed and flowed as India dominated the morning session and failed to capitalise on the opportunity after lunch to be bowled out for 263 before grabbing the initiative in the evening.The hosts came back strongly with Jadeja claiming 4/52 and Ashwin grabbing 3-63 getting into the driver’s seat despite a fighting half-century by Will Young, his second fifty of the match that kept New Zealand’s hopes alive.
With the last wicket pair of Ajaz Patel and Will O’Rourke at the crease, New Zealand will be hoping to add as many runs as possible to their lead of 143 runs, hoping to make things as difficult as possible for India.
The Indians raised hopes once again by destroying New Zealand’s second innings with Jadeja and Ashwin striking blows at regular intervals. Akash Deep, opening the bowling, gave India the breakthrough once again by bowling Tom Latham for one as the ball nipped back in to sneak through the gap between the bat and pad.
Washington Sundar then accounted for Devon Conway (22) and Ashwin sent back Rachin Ravindra for 4 but Will Young and Daryl Mitchell, who had saved New Zealand in their first innings, raised a half-century partnership to keep New Zealand’s hopes alive.
But Ashwin pulled off a brilliant catch off a skier, running a long distance to poach a diving catch from Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling, to dismiss Mitchell for 21 off 41 balls.
New Zealand lost their fourth wicket with 94 runs on the board, just 66 runs ahead. While Young continued to soldier on from the other end, New Zealand continued to lose wickets.
Jadeja grabbed his seventh wicket of the match when he had Tim Blundell chopping onto his wicket with a full-length delivery that rushed onto the batter. He made it eight wickets for the match by sending back Ish Sodhi as India took control of the match.
Glenn Phillips struck Ashwin for a couple of sixes in an over but the seasoned off-spinner had the last laugh knocking back the off-stump with a sensational carrom ball that the batter failed to read and played the wrong line. Phillips scored 26 off 14 balls (1×4, 3×6) and New Zealand were down to 131/6.
But Young kept their hopes alive with his second half-century of the match before spooning a catch back to Ashwin off another carrom balls tossed up which drifted towards the leg-stump. Young showed lots of patience as he scored 51 off 100 balls, hitting two fours and a six. (IANS)