New Zealand bowlers have been absolutely on the mark to keep the star-studded Indian batting unit at bay in the first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. However, the likes of Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara tried to apply themselves in the second essay but Trent Boult produced a moment of brilliance to knock off Pujara’s timber.
New Zealand tailenders added 132 runs for the last three wickets- which ensured the hosts led India by 183 runs at the end of their first innings. Debutant Kyle Jamieson and Trent Boult were superb with the bat playing quickfire knocks of 44 and 38 runs to pile on more runs for the hosts. Ishant Sharma finished with five wickets while Ravichandran Ashwin provided good supports scalping three wickets.
Read More: Twitter slams Prithvi Shaw after a reckless shot gets him out in the second innings
Indian openers had their task cut out in the second innings against the confident Kiwi bowlers who shed fire on day one with the new ball. However, after a bright couple of boundaries, Trent Boult got rid of Prithvi Shaw as he played another erratic show to throw his wicket. However, thanks to Mayank Agarwal, India steadied the ship adding 51 runs for the second wicket alongside Cheteshwar Pujara.
But the host came back right at the stroke of tea when Trent Boult bowled a ripper to end Pujara’s 81-ball vigil. It was a fullish in-angler from Boult, who kept it on a fourth stump line. India’s No. 3 made a horrendous misjudgement which looked like Pujara had premeditated the leave. He looked disappointed with himself after all the hard work by digging in against some good spells of pace bowling.
New Zealand capitalised the momentum to remove the set Mayank Agarwal and then Virat Kohli to have India at 113 for four. It will take a monumental effort from Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, and Rishabh Pant to bail their side out and save this Test match.
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— Cricket Lover (@Cricket50719030) February 23, 2020
