Published: Sep 22, 2016, 06:48 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 23, 2016, 09:30 AM (IST)
The first of the three-Test series between India and New Zealand commenced at Kanpur, which was also the 500th Test appearance for India. The proceedings began well with the toss going in home team’s favour as they elected to bat. India got off to a decent start but later the script changed dramatically. New Zealand’s talented spinner, Mitchell Santner got the first wicket of the day in the form of KL Rahul. Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara added 112 runs for the second wicket as New Zealand bowlers looked clueless. Pujara’s soft dismissals provided a lucky breakthrough for the visitors which changed the scenario thereafter.
India lost their second wicket at the score of 154 and soon captain Virat Kohli too walked back to pavilion after he was well set by pacer Neil Wagner. That followed another wicket in the form of his deputy, Ajinkya Rahane. Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin did put together a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket but their departure once again saw India tottering. Santner, who was given the second new ball along with Boult in the 81st over, struck soon to get rid off of Rohit for 35. Rohit, like he usually does, played a mistimed shot to mid-on to cause his dismissal. Ashwin scored a well-made 40 with the help of seven boundaries before falling to Boult.
India, who took tea at 185 for four, lost five wickets in the final session of play and ended up posting 291 with the loss of 9 wickets. Meanwhile, we present few interesting statistical facts from Day One.
1. Murali Vijay scored 65 (170) and in this way, he made 13th half-century of his Test career.
2. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 62 (109) and posted his 8th half-century in Tests.
3. After losing the first wicket at 42, Vijay and Pujara added 112 runs for second wicket which is the second best partnership for the second wicket by an Indian pair in 2016.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin scored 35 (67) and became the leading run-scorer in Tests for India with 275 runs from 5 innings in 2016.
5. Neil Wagner is now the leading wicket-taker from New Zealand’s side with 28 scalps from 10 innings so far in this year. Overall, he is standing at sixth position currently in the race of most dismissals.
