Wellington: Team India's struggle continued in opening Test as they lost quick wickets on Day 2 and were bowled out for paltry 165 by New Zealand in their first innings at the Basin Reserve here on Saturday.
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India all out for 165.
— ICC (@ICC) February 21, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Four wickets apiece for Southee and Kyle Jamieson 👏 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Z6mzEa11Wd
">India all out for 165.
— ICC (@ICC) February 21, 2020
Four wickets apiece for Southee and Kyle Jamieson 👏 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Z6mzEa11WdIndia all out for 165.
— ICC (@ICC) February 21, 2020
Four wickets apiece for Southee and Kyle Jamieson 👏 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Z6mzEa11Wd
Resuming their innings for 122/5, India lost Rishabh Pant (19), Ravichandran Ashwin (0), Ajinkya Rahane (46), Ishant Sharma (5) and Mohammed Shami(21) in just 13.1 overs bowled on Day 2 as the visitors managed to play only 68.1 overs in total.
Pant got run out due to bad mix up between him and Rahane, while Ashwin was sent packing by Tim Southee on the very first ball he faced. Moments later, Southee struck again and sent well-set Rahane back to the pavilion.
Shami and Sharma showed resistance for little time before the latter was removed by debutant Kyle Jamieson.
Meanwhile, Shami, who came out with attacking approach, was trying to hit almost every ball which ultimately costed him his wicket as the Indian pacer was caught by Tom Blundell after he went for a big shot off Southee's delivery.
On the other hand, Southee and Jamieson were the pick of the bowlers for the Black Caps as both the pacers bagged four wickets each.
Earlier on Friday, after being put into bat in rather difficult circumstances, which included overcast conditions and a fairly green track, the visitors didn't have a great start as they lost young opener Prithvi Shaw quite early.
Shaw, who scored a couple of boundaries, was undone by a peach of a delivery by Southee, who disturbed the woodwork in the fifth over and sent back the Indian opener back in the dressing room at his individual score of 16.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who is being termed as the new 'wall' of Indian Test team, then tried to steady the ship with other opener Mayank Agarwal. However, after playing out 42 deliveries, Pujara became the first Test scalp of Jamieson. The good length delivery bowled by the tall, right-arm pacer jagged of a length and Pujara could only manage a fine edge and was caught by keeper BJ Watling after contributing with 11.
Skipper Virat Kohli, who came in next, continued his poor run of form in the ongoing tour and was caught at first slip by Ross Taylor off the bowling of Jamieson.
Kohli scored just two runs off seven deliveries and his wicket left India reeling at 40/3.
However, Rahane then joined forces with Agarwal and made sure the visitors didn't lose any further wicket till the end of the session. India went into Lunch at 79/3.
In the second session, Agarwal, who had weathered the first two hours with remarkable composure, couldn't stay long and was caught at fine-leg as he top-edged a rising Trent Boult delivery off his hips after sharing a valuable 48-run partnership with Rahane.
Hanuma Vihari (7) looked shaky right from the start and became the third scalp of debutant Kyle Jamieson, who got him caught behind.
However, Pant who was drafted into the playing XI in place of Wriddhiman Saha, played with utmost composure and made sure India didn't lose any further wickets till the end of the session.
Not a single ball could be bowled in the final session as heavy rainfall started to pour and continued for long, thus forcing the match officials to call the end of the day's play.
