While the Indian bowlers dominated the day two of the Christchurch Test to bring back the visitors into the game, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant helped the team to end the Blackcaps’ first innings with a brilliant catch.
As the home team New Zealand won the first Test of this two-match Test series by ten wickets (at Wellington), the ongoing Christchurch Test is the must-win game for Virat Kohli-led Indian team to save this series. But India once again got a weak start in the Christchurch Test as they managed to score 242 runs in the first innings.
Though New Zealand started their first innings of this Test positively with 63/0 at the stumps of day one, the Indian bowlers dominated the second day and bowled out the hosts for 235 runs. Indian bowlers and fielders both reacted very well on day two as the visitors managed to get the lead of seven runs.
Rishabh Pant took a stunning catch to dismiss Kyle Jamieson
While New Zealand were losing their wickets at regular intervals, Kyle Jamieson once again played a crucial knock which somehow saved the hosts from getting all out in lower total. While India were looking for the lead of around 50 runs, Kyle Jamieson came to the crease and scored a crucial 49 runs off 63 balls with seven fours. He was the last batsman to be dismissed in that innings, and Rishabh Pant should get the most credit for that wicket.
On the first ball of the 74th over of that innings, Mohammed Shami delivered a short ball which Kyle Jamieson went for a pull to complete his maiden international fifty. While that ball travelled on the air for around 30 yards of Jamieson’s leg side, the young wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant desperately ran towards the ball as there was no other fielder. The gloveman followed the ball very well and grabbed that ball incredibly to end the threat of Jamieson.
In overall, Rishabh Pant took three catches in that New Zealand’s first innings.
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However, the Indian batsmen once again struggled on day two as they were battling on 90/6 at the stumps. At the end of that day, Hanuma Vihari (5*) and Rishabh Pant (1*) were at the crease.