The Day Two of the first Test between India and New Zealand belonged to the visitors. Weren’t India expected to steamroll the New Zealanders? That did not happen. In fact, New Zealand have now won four of the five sessions played in the Test before rains played spoilsport to the proceedings. Only two sessions of play could be possible on Day Two with New Zealand ending on 152 for 1, in reply to India’s 318. They now trail by 166 runs. Losing Martin Guptill in the first session, the visitors did not lose a wicket in the second session and also maintained a decent strike-rate which ensured that the scoreboard ticked on.
It was their skipper Kane Williamson’s mastery that put New Zealand in a strong position and Tom Latham too batted well for his half century. Indian spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who were expected to dominate, had their moments but could not claim a single wicket, as the hosts now face a stiff challenge to ensure a win in their landmark 500th Test. More than a third of the second day’s play got washed out due to the weather Gods, but there were some special moments too. Here are the highlights.
Who is the knight? India ended Day One at 291 for 9 and ran a risk of being bowled out inside 300. Jadeja carries a reputation. He has three triple-hundreds in First-Class cricket but yet to prove his worth as an all-rounder in Test cricket. Before the series, Jadeja and his Kiwi counterpart Mitchell Santner were compared because of their similar playing style. Live updates: India vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 2
It seemed like Jadeja was keen to prove who was superior. He was particularly severe on Santner, whom he smacked for a six in the fifth over of the day. Jadeja faced 19 balls from Santner and scored 21. Santner may be a good prospect but we call Jadeja ‘Sir’ for a reason.
On a serious note, Jadeja’s 44-ball 42 not out helped India to 318. He added 41 with Umesh Yadav for the last wicket. This is not the first time Jadeja has thrived when chips were down. In his short list of good Test knocks, this one stands out among the best.
Umesh gets Guptill: Umesh has a reputation for being erratic with his line, for which he often gets punished by the batsmen. Martin Guptill, who can be termed as New Zealand’s Rohit Sharma, for his fantastic run against white ball but dismal outings in Test cricket, started well.
Umesh was removed from attack after his first over and the second of the innings. In the 10th over of the innings, he was brought back. Guptill had scored a quick 21 but fell to Umesh’s pace. The ball swung in sharply and thudded to the batsman’s pad. Up went the dreaded finger.
There was Shami, Ashwin and Jadeja. Who would have thought that Umesh would end up being the only wicket-taker of the day.
Williamson’s pull and the interesting scorecard read: There is a reason why Williamson is rated among the best in the world. He has the gift of picking up the length early. In the last ball of the 33rd over, Umesh was a fraction short but the New Zealand skipper picked the length early and pulled it past mid-wicket for a boundary. The power generated by the little man was extraordinary.
While the batting connoisseurs would have this replay on a loop, the ones who love coincidences with numbers had a reason to cheer to. That four brought an end to the 33rd over. The scoreboard read: 111/1 in 33 overs, Day 2, Session 2.
The lesser-known cricket rule: Williamson and Latham were batting comfortably and India were looking at that one breakthrough. Latham, who had employed the sweep with a lot of success, fell to Jadeja’s trap. Looking to sweep one, he got it on his boot on the way to KL Rahul at short-leg. Umpire Richard Kettleborough did not give it out and went upstairs. READ: IND vs NZ 2016, 1st Test: Why was Tom Latham ruled ‘not out’?
Close call! Tom Latham survives after the ball hits the grille of KL Rahul’s helmet at short leg Paytm Test Cricket #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/fCUSIEUJFk
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 23, 2016
It was off the boot and there was no ground involved but the question was if the ball touched the helmet or not? Rahul somewhat juggled to take the catch and the ball may have brushed the helmet grille or the strap. Third umpire Anil Chaudhary ruled it in Latham’s favour. Fair enough. Tough luck for India.
Kohli and Rahul looked livid and clueless.
But rules are rules.
Law 32.3 (d) clearly mentions: “A fielder catches the ball after it has touched an umpire, another fielder or the other batsman. However, it is not a fair catch if at any time after having been struck by the bat and before a catch is completed the ball has touched a protective helmet worn by a fielder.”
Williamson wins round one against Ashwin: Williamson vs Ashwin is one of the most looked forward contest in the Test series. Round one belonged to Williamson. He was brilliant with his footwork as he mastered the Ashwin-Jadeja threat en route to his unbeaten 65.
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Williamson is on his way to become New Zealand’s finest batsman and it was their finest, Martin Crowe’s birth anniversary yesterday and the Kiwi captain chose a good time to produce another special knock.
Abhishek Mukherjee, Editor-in-Chief of CricketCountry, writes: “Ashwin did not do anything wrong per se. He bowled to an excellent length. There was turn in the pitch, but no zip. He bowled intelligently, varying flight and turning the odd one.
Williamson, however, went one up. He stayed on the back-foot by default. He waited for the ball. If Ashwin pitched on good length, Williamson let them turn. His brilliant footwork and nimble hands allowed him to make the necessary adjustments. The pitch provided turn, but the bounce remained true, so he could handle the turn.”
Ashwin too had his moments towards the fag end of second session but for today, the king was Williamson.
A special mention has to be the Umesh snorter, delivered in the third over before lunch. Umesh delivered one at 137 kph on off-stump, Williamson was forced to play at it but it just curved away past the outside edge. It has to be one of the balls of the match.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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