Wellington:India's top order with the exception of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and opener Mayank Agarwal struggled as the visitors were left reeling at 122 for 5 on the rain-curtailed first day of the opening Test against New Zealand here on Friday.
Thunderstorm followed by rain in the middle of the tea break washed out the final session. India were 122 for 5 then after New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to field at the Basin Reserve.
The umpires decided to end the day's play after an inspection.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant were batting on 38 and 10 respectively.
Tall seamer Kyle Jamieson had a dream debut picking up 3/38 in 14 overs as it was generally a struggle for the batsmen on a juicy first day track at the Basin Reserve.
Such was the disciplined effort from the Black Caps bowlers that India managed only 43 runs in the second session as Rahane played 122 balls, hitting four boundaries on a heavy outfield. Rishabh Pant was at the other end on 10 not out.
Mayank Agarwal (34 off 84 balls), who did the hard work of surviving the first session, was out after lunch as he tried a pull shot off Trent Boult just after surviving a tough caught and bowled chance.
Hanuma Vihari (7) was Jamieson's third victim as he edged a pitched up delivery to induce a nick.
Once Kane Williamson called the toss of coin right under overcast conditions, it was a challenge for the Indian batsmen.
Prithvi Shaw (16 off 18 balls), Cheteshwar Pujara (11 off 42 balls) and skipper Virat Kohli (2 off 7 balls) were back in the pavilion with debutant Jamieson keeping up the pressure after Tim Southee (1/27 in 14 overs) and Boult (1/44 in 14 overs) bowled a probing first spell.
Ajinkya Rahane revived Indian innings after poor start.
Young Shaw clipped one off Boult and also hit an uppish square cut to get two quick boundaries. But his loose technique and propensity to close his bat face was always going to cost him dearly.
Southee bowled one that looked like angling in and Shaw closed the bat face as the ball moved a shade away after pitching, brushing his pad and then the off-stump. The batsman had a dazed look knowing that his technique was thoroughly exposed on a seamer-friendly track.
Ajinkya Rahan on day one of opening Test against NZ.
Pujara was ready to show a lot of patience as he started leaving deliveries outside the off-stump. However, Jamieson, coming in as the second change, bowled his back of length delivery on the off-middle channel. Pujara had no option but to jab at the rising delivery which kissed the outside edge of his bat and was taken by wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
A lot of hope were pinned on skipper Kohli but a smart ploy by Jamieson brought about the downfall of the Indian captain. Kohli was playing Jamieson for the disconcerting bounce that he generated from back of the length but in between, he decided to slip one fuller delivery on the fourth stump channel.
Kohli lunged into the drive and the thickish edge was taken by the '100th Test man' Ross Taylor, standing at the first slip, to compound India's troubles.
Brief Scores:
India 1st Innings: 122 for 5 in 55 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 38 batting, Mayank Agarwal 34, Rishabh Pant 10 batting; Kyle Jamieson 3/38).
