Williamson stars with 89, but Ishant leads India fightback in 1st Test
Saturday, 22 February 2020 (13:42 IST)
Wellington:The second day in Wellington was largely a good one for New Zealand as they posted a lead of 51 by stumps, with Kane Williamson's 89 helping them to 216/5 after they bowled India out for 165.
Ishant Sharma returned a fine 3/31 to keep New Zealand within reach, even asWilliamson scored a 153-ball 89 and Ross Taylor, in his 100th Test, a 71-ball 44.
The day began with Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant looking to revive Indiaafter they were reduced to 122/5 by stumps on the first day. However, things didn'tgo to plan, despite Pant raising hopes with a lofted six off the fourth ball of the day.
India managed to add just 43 runs to their overnight total, with Pant's disastrousrun-out triggering a collapse. Rahane pinged one to point and charged forward for asingle, despite Pant's cries denying the run. Eventually, Pant sacrificed his wicket forhis more experienced colleague.
However, having gained an opening, New Zealand burst through. R Ashwin wasundone by a fine outswinger from Tim Southee that took the top of his off stump.When Rahane himself was dismissed five overs later, caught behind off a bottomedge, India had little choice but to throw the kitchen sink at it.
That's what Mohammed Shami did. He scored a 20-ball 21 to help push the total165, but the innings was soon closed out in 68.1 overs, an ICC report said.India's pacers took a while to find the right lengths. They needed to bowl fuller, andwhile Ishant did that to trouble batsmen, Shami and Jasprit Bumrah both struggled.Ishant broke through, a bit fortunately, with Tom Latham being caught off a harmless delivery down leg.
Then, Tom Blundell and Kane Williamson parried. They put on 47 for the secondwicket, before Blundell was cleaned up by Ishant with a bit of inswing. That broughtTaylor to the middle ? he walked in to a standing ovation from the Basin Reserve ?and for a good while thereafter, New Zealand dominated.
Taylor and Williamson, much like they have numerous times before, provedimpenetrable for a while, and eventually added 93 for the third wicket. There weresome rasping boundaries between them, and neither batsman was shy to take theattack to the bowlers when the situation deemed it. India were, well and truly, madeto toil.
The breakthrough, once again, came thanks to Ishant. It was a good length delivery,but there was extra bounce on it, and Taylor was caught unawares, the ball reboundingoff his gloves to square leg. It was the opening India needed. Williamson looked tocarry on bring about three figures, but couldn't keep down a drive off Shami and wascaught beautifully at cover.
Then, late in the day, Henry Nicholls (17) was tempted into an edge by R Ashwin, witha delighted Virat Kohli taking the catch at slips. India had fought back to restore somerespectability, and they will now hope for a couple of early wickets on the third morningto really get a foothold in the match.
