If anyone thought that the score of 345 runs was going to be enough and India’s spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were going to bamboozle New Zealand’s batting line-up for fun, they were proved absolutely wrong by the new opening combination for the visitors as Tom Latham and Will Young kept them at bay and took their side through to stumps on Day 2 unscathed.
It was a show of great application and grit from the New Zealand openers as on a deteriorating surface as it’s not easy to not lose a wicket for 57 overs. Tom Latham especially was very patient and wasn’t looking to score runs instead wanted to spend time to get used to the pace.
Youn, on the other hand, took his chances and rotated strike to keep the scorecard ticking. Young also got the boundaries away and let Latham play calmly.
The duo brought up a 100-run stand and got their side through the day’s play without losing any wickets. New Zealand are still 216 runs behind but they would take 129/0 any day of the week against India in their backyard.
Charging on. Young (66*) and Latham (40*) post their 100 run partnership midway through the final session of day two in Kanpur. 110-0 at drinks, trailing by 235 runs. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/yGSlW6a2d5 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/NGb7xL7wlN
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 26, 2021
However, the day was set up early by the New Zealand bowlers, especially Tim Southee.
If the evening of Day 1 belonged to the hosts with an unbeaten 113-run partnership between Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja, the morning belonged to New Zealand despite the former’s maiden Test century.Â
The two batters could add only eight more runs to India’s overnight score of 258 as Southee drew the first blood of the moring in form of Jadeja. Southee was attacking the left-hander’s pads and had even got the DRS to check an LBW appeal which landed in favour of the batsman because of the umpire’s call. However, he didn’t need anyone later as he cleaned him up.
Iyer with five boundaries in a matter of a few balls completed his maiden century but India’s joy was limited to that only in the first hour as Southee removed him, Wriddhiman Saha and Axar Patel to complete his five-wicket haul and reduced India to 313/8.
Ravichandran Ashwin then played an attacking knock of 38 runs off just 56 balls to help India stretch their innings to the second session and score in touching distance of 350.
Iyer top-scored with 105 runs followed by fifties from Jadeja and Shubman Gill while Ashwin and Rahane played their part with crucial knocks of 30-odd runs. Southee registered figures of 5/69, while Jamieson ended up taking three wickets.
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel took the last two wickets to clean up India’s tail.
Innings Break!
That will be the end of #TeamIndia‘s innings with 345 on the board in the first innings.
Scorecard – https://t.co/WRsJCUhS2d #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/GeJ7A3iGRQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 26, 2021
