New Zealand are off to a brilliant start in the first of the two-match series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. India are struggling with five of their batsmen already back in the hut and Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant trying to build a partnership to bail the visitors out of danger.
Opting to bowl of green surface, the Kiwis used the wicket to perfection before Prithvi Shaw gave India a brisk start hitting two fours in his knock of 16 runs from 18 deliveries. However, his stay at the crease was shortlived as Tim Southee produced a moment of brilliance with the red cherry to knock off Shaw's timber.
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After an erratic start, Southee finally got his radar right and delivered the ideal fullish outswinger. It pitched on the middle and offline as Shaw thought he can work this away on the leg-side but that was simply not the option. The young batting prodigy, who was making a comeback to the Test side, gets completely undone by the movement and hears the death rattle behind him.
Meanwhile, the shot selection made things worse for Prithvi Shaw here. Although it was a good ball alright but not unplayable as he made it out to be as India lost their first wicket for 16 runs all scored by the Mumbai batsman.
Watch the video here:
Shaw cleaned up by Southee. #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/U4FswTI94b
— Karan P. Saxena (@karanpsaxena92) February 21, 2020
Meanwhile, tasting the blood, New Zealand continued on their hunt for more wickets before debutant Kyle Jamieson picked two of the most prized wickets in Test cricket. The 6ft 8inches tall right-arm fast bowler removed Cheteshwar Pujara before sending back Virat Kohli to have India at 40 for three. Trent Boult then removed set Mayank Agarwal before Jamieson returned to pick his third wicket of the day removing Hanuma Vihari to leave India tatter at 101 for five.
