New Zealand’s Devon Conway produced a stunning moment of brilliance on Day 2 of the first Test against India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match, played on Thursday, October 17, saw Conway make a remarkable diving catch to dismiss India’s Sarfaraz Khan for a duck. The catch played a pivotal role in reducing India to 10/3 during a challenging morning session for the hosts.
The incident occurred in the 10th over of India’s first innings. Matt Henry bowled a length delivery outside the off-stump, which Sarfaraz, looking slightly off-balance, pushed towards extra cover. Conway reacted swiftly, covering significant ground before executing a perfectly timed dive to his right to secure the catch.
His athletic effort gave the Kiwis a significant breakthrough, and the dismissal was a key moment in the early part of the game. JioCinema’s official handle shared the clip of the catch on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as “Conway’s leap of faith.”
New Zealand’s Early Strikes Put India Under Pressure
New Zealand’s bowlers delivered early blows to India’s top order, dismissing key players to put the hosts under immense pressure. India captain Rohit Sharma, who managed only two runs, was clean bowled by Tim Southee in a crucial early dismissal. Following that, Virat Kohli was removed for a duck by New Zealand pacer William O’Rourke, adding to the team’s woes. Conway’s brilliant catch off Henry’s bowling dismissed Sarfaraz Khan for zero, leaving India reeling.
At the time of the third wicket, India’s score stood at a precarious 10/3, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant remaining at the crease. The early wickets of Rohit, Kohli, and Sarfaraz in quick succession put India in a difficult position during the morning session. Play was later interrupted by rain with the scoreboard reading 13/3 after 12.4 overs.
India and New Zealand’s Recent Test Performances
India entered the Test series with momentum, having recently completed a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the team aimed to maintain its strong form as it looked ahead to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. New Zealand, meanwhile, had suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sri Lanka before arriving in India. Following the loss, Tim Southee stepped down as captain, and Tom Latham took over the reins for the ongoing three-match series.
The last time India and New Zealand faced each other in a Test series was during the 2021-22 season, where India emerged victorious 1-0 in a two-match series. Despite their competitive history, New Zealand has never won a Test series in India, and the current series presents another challenging opportunity for the Kiwis as they seek to break their winless streak on Indian soil.
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