After the hosts New Zealand bundled out visiting India for the paltry total in the Wellington Test, the Indian bowlers tried hard to bring back the team into the game. Some late wickets on day two have opened up the fighting opportunity for the visitors.
India started the second day of the Test on 122/5 and were bundled out for 165 runs. At the stumps on day two, New Zealand posted 216 for five to gain the lead of crucial 51 runs.
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After adding ten runs in the morning, the overnight batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant were involved in a mix-up which led Pant’s (19) run-out. While Rahane was dismissed on 46 runs, Mohammed Shami added 21 runs in that first innings.
While the debutant Kyle Jamieson managed the bowling figures of 16-3-39-4, Tim Southee (20.1-5-49-4) also took four wickets.
Ishant Sharma has kept the Indian team into the fight:
In reply, the opener Tom Latham (11) lost his wicket cheaply. Another opener Tom Blundell was bowled after scoring 30 runs.
Captain Kane Williamson and the experienced player Ross Taylor controlled the innings and stitched 93-run partnership for the third wicket. Playing his 100th Test, Taylor scored 44 runs before losing his wicket after providing a catch to the short leg.
On the other hand, Kane Williamson registered a half-century and was moving towards the big score. Before Mohammed Shami dismissed him, the Kiwi skipper scored 89 runs off 153 balls (11 fours).
At the stroke of stumps of day two, the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took the wicket of Henry Nicholls (17). Wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling (14*) and the all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme (4*) will begin the day three on Sunday.
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The tall right-arm pacer Ishant Sharma bowled superbly on the day two as he took three wickets. He dismissed both the Kiwi openers and Ross Taylor. At the stumps of day two, Ishant had the bowling figures of 15-6-31-3.
New Zealand vs India 2020: 1st Test, Wellington – day two stumps; Here are some Twitter reactions of the day:
Before the start of the Test, I was a little concerned/sceptical about Ishant’s match-fitness but it’s quite evident why the team didn’t have any doubts. Three key wickets for the big man. #NZvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 22, 2020
Bumrah is just one more injury away from becoming the Indian Jackson Bird #NZvIND
— Sak (@Lexbeforewicket) February 22, 2020
Kids of today won't know the horror Wellington Test match in 2014. Nothing can be worse than waking up early for an India win only to watch McCullum hit a triple century and NZ go from 95/5 to 680/8.#NZvIND
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) February 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/FarziCricketer/status/1231088669206835202?s=20
Full marks to Ishant for consistently performing in test matches. Whenever the captain has needed a wicket, he has been spot on with his lengths.
2-3 quick wicket in Third day first session and we're on in this game ??
Common Bumrah and Shams.#NZvIND #TeamIndia— Keshav (@keshavtweets) February 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/Jinxxxxx18/status/1231108093062283264?s=20
The possible plan for India..limit NZ's lead to around 100-120 max and then try to score atleast 350+ in the 2nd innings. can be their only chance after the horrible 1st innings batting. #NZvsIND #NZvIND
— movieman (@movieman777) February 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/nsp2607/status/1231104937700085760?s=20
https://twitter.com/HSrivastava186/status/1231103082303496192?s=20
Umesh should have played ahead of Bumrah in tests. Umesh was always a better test bowler than Bumrah and bumrah continue in ODI and T20 #RANDOMOPINION
#NZvIND @BCCI @cricketaakash— Magleshwar Pd Mishra (@magleshwarm) February 22, 2020
we have gone to nz as fav,what happened? #NZvIND
— awanish. (@PeakRohit) February 22, 2020
Forgot to tweet, WTF Rahane.. Pant ne tumhara kya bigada tha? #NZvIND
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 22, 2020
50 runs lead already, with 5 wickets in hand, NZ have an upper hand here. Unless someone stands up with a memorable performance for #TeaIndia it looks like another overseas defeat . #NZvIND
— Arnab B (@TheBongGunner) February 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/imBatasari/status/1231113329327788032?s=20