India opener Mayank Agarwal has been the only shining star in what has been a disappointing outing by the batsmen in the first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. He application earned praise from all quarters including former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris, who said that Mayank lived by example to his teammates.
India had a devastating outing in the first innings bowled for only 165 runs with Ajinkya Rahane the only batsman to show some grit scoring 46 runs. Meanwhile, New Zealand showed that it is not a difficult track to bat as he took a crucial lead of 183 runs in the first innings with skipper Kane Williamson doing the bulk of runs for his side. The Kiwi tail wagged the last three wickets added 132 runs – this ensured the hosts led India by 183 runs at the end of their first innings.
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The visiting team had their task cut out in the second innings and they had to survive the opening burst of the Kiwi bowlers. 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.
The Karnataka-born opener who has given the assurity in the top-order looked in complete control of the scheme of things. He played fine shots which needed to be hit helping India to close in on New Zealand's first-innings lead. Scott Styris hailed Mayank Agarwal played the perfect innings for New Zealand conditions and he showed the rest of the batting order how to survive and score runs.
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“For a player with limited international experience, he showed his teammates how to bat in New Zealand. Anytime he got a half volley he would stroke it away, anytime he got width he put it away and that is simple batting in New Zealand. You have to wait, when the conditions are helping fast bowlers, you wait for width and you wait for overpitched deliveries. It is that simple, it is nothing more than that. It was outstanding,” Styris told the host broadcasters at the Tea interval.
Meanwhile, New Zealand bounced back at the stroke of tea with Trent Boult dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara before Tim Southee removed the set Mayank Agarwal, who struck nine boundaries and a six in his 58-runs knock. India will now need big knocks from Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane to secure a big lead in the second innings to put the Kiwis under pressure.
