New Zealand bowlers continued their brilliant run on day two as they bowled out India for a paltry score of 165 runs at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. While day one belonged to debutant Kyle Jamieson, veteran Tim Southee walked off with the honours on the second days scalping three wickets to run down India’s batting order. 

India managed to add only 10 runs from their overnight score before an error in judgement cost Rishabh Pant’s wicket. It was needless from the visitors as they toil for 132 for six and were in deep trouble. After Pant’s departure, India needed Ashwin, playing ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, to stay in the middle with Ajinkya Rahane. But he got an extremely good nut first up even before he could’ve got hold of the conditions and behaviour of the surface.

It was a moment of brilliance from Southee, who pitched the ball full and angled it into Ashwin from around middle and off. The ball swung away late to beat the outside edge and cannons into the sticks. It made Ashwin look like an amateur in the end, but can’t really fault him there. Just one of those cracking deliveries that you don’t want to face as a batsman, especially when you are a lower order bat. 

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New Zealand, who tasted blood kept up the pressure with Tim Southee removing the set Ajinkya Rahane after a gritty knock of 46 runs. Soon after that, debutant Kyle Jamieson removed Ishant Sharma to scalp his fourth wicket but a quickfire knock from Mohammed Shami helped India cross the 150-run mark. In return, the Kiwis have got a flying start and will hope to secure a massive first-innings lead.