NZ Vs IND, 1st Test, Day 2 Highlights: New Zealand Still In Control Despite India's Fightback

New Zealand were 216 for five in their first innings at stumps in reply to India's total of 165 on the second day of the opening Test at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Saturday. Catch Day 2 highlights here:

Day 1 Highlights | Day 2 Report | Cricket News

Ishant Sharma (3/31) took three wickets, dismissing both the openers -- Tom Blundell (30) and Tom Latham (11) and milestone man Ross Taylor (44), while Mohammed Shami (1/61) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1/60) snapped one each as India fought hard to keep their chances alive in the first Test.

BJ Watling (14) and Colin de Grandhomme (4) were at the crease as New Zealand took a 51-run lead. Kane Williamson (89) top-scored, while Ross Taylor (44) too chipped in with a useful contribution.

Earlier, resuming at an overnight score of 122 for 5, India lost the rest of the five wickets adding just 43 runs.

Tim Southee (4/49) and Kyle Jamieson (4/39) claimed four wickets each, while Trent Boult (1/57) snapped one.

Brief Score:

India 1st Innings: 165 all out in 68.1 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 46; Kyle Jamieson 4/39).

New Zealand 1st innings: 216 for 5 in 71.1 overs (Kane Williamson 89; Ishant Sharma 3/31).

New Zealand First Innings; India First Innings - 165 All Out; Toss - New Zealand

11:45 AM IST: And an abrupt end to the day's play, to the surprise of India captain Virat Kohli. Blame it on the bad light. New Zealand in control. Colin de Grandhomme (4 off 2) and BJ Watling (14 off 29) are unbeaten. NZ - 216/5 (71.1); IND - 165 All Out.

New Zealand took a lead of 51 runs.

11:33 AM IST: First wicket for Ravichandran Ashwin. Henry Nicholls (17 off 62) caught by Virat Kohli. Budding partnership of 22 (43) runs broken. Colin de Grandhomme the new man. BJ Watling (9 off 23). NZ - 207/5 (69.5); IND - 165 All Out. Kiwis lead India by 42 runs.

11:26 AM IST: Controlled shot from Henry Nicholls for a four off the first ball of the 69th over, bowled by Mohammed Shami, to bring up New Zealand's 200. Nicholls (15 off 55) and BJ Watling (4 off 20). NZ - 200/4 (68.1); IND - 165 All Out.

11:14 AM IST: New Zealand's have taken a 25-run lead as players take drinks break. Henry Nicholls (7 off 48) and BJ Watling (2 off 14) are unbeaten batsmen. NZ - 190/4 (66.0); IND - 165 All Out.

11:03 AM IST: Big wicket! Mohammed Shami had Kane Williamson (89 off 153) caught at cover by sub fielder Ravindra Jadeja. A rare mistake from the New Zealand skipper. Enticed by half-volley but found a fielder. NZ - 185/4 (62.4); IND - 165 All Out.

10:50 AM IST: Kane Williamson (84 off 145) approaches hundred as India continue to struggle. No discernable concern for new man Henry Nicholls. NZ - 180/3 (60); IND - 165 All Out.

10:12 AM IST: New Zealand go past India's total. And 93-run stand between Kane Williamson (74) and Ross Taylor (44). NZ - 166/2 (51.4); IND - 165 All Out.

9:31 AM IST: First individual fifty of the match, courtesy Kane Williamson (52). Ross Taylor (27) also looking in good touch. NZ - 127/2 (42); IND - 165 All Out.

9:23 AM IST: Quick over from Ravichandran Ashwin to start the post-tea proceedings at Basin Reserve. Ross Taylor hits the fifth ball for a four. He moves to 26 off 44, while Kane Williamson is on 47 off 86. NZ - 121/2 (40); IND - 165 All Out. New Zealand trail by 44 runs.

It's likely to be a long drawn session for India.

9:03 AM IST: TEA. New Zealand trail India by 49 runs. Kane Williamson (46) and RossTaylor (22) are unbeaten. They have added 43 runs for the third wicket. NZ - 116/2 (39); IND - 165 All Out.

8:35 AM IST: Ross Taylor, playing in his 100th Test, quickly moved to 17, off 19 balls with the help of a six and a four. He has added 23 runs in 32 balls with skipper Kane Williamson (37 off 63). NZ - 96/2 (32); IND - 165.

8:10 AM IST: WICKET! Ishant Sharma strikes again. This time a beauty. Tom Blundell (30 off 80) bowled. NZ - 73/2 (26.4); IND - 165 All Out.

Landmark man Ross Taylor is the new man.

8:03 AM IST: India finally introduced spin, in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin, in the 22nd over. But Tom Blundell (30 off 75) and Kane Williamson (29 off 45) are unmoved. They have added 44 runs for the second wicket. Kiwis trail by 95 runs. NZ - 70/1 (25), IND - 165.

7:39 AM IST: Tom Blundell (28 off 59) and Kane Williamson (14 off 31) slowly building a stand for New Zealand. In the 20th over, Williamson hit Jasprit Bumrah for two fours. They have added 27 runs in 58 balls for the second wicket. New Zealand still trail India by 112 runs. NZ - 53/1 (20); IND - 165.

7:19 AM IST: Wicket-taker Ishant Sharma (1/9 in seven overs) and Mohammed Shami (0/12 in four overs) operating in tandem. Quite batting from Tom Blundell (19 off 45) and Kane Williamson (2 off 15). They have added six runs for the second wicket in 28 balls. Kiwis still trail by 133 balls. NZ - 32/1 (15); IND - 165 All Out.

6:53 AM IST: Ishant Sharma removed Tom Latham (11 off 30). Caught behind. NZ - 26/1 (10.2). Kane Williamson new man for New Zealand.

6:41 AM IST: Ishant Sharma resumes the proceedings after lunch.

6:03 AM IST: New Zealand openers Tom Latham (11 off 26) and Tom Blundell (6 off 22) negotiated the eight overs before Lunch on Day. They trail by 148 runs. India have used three bowlers -- Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami.

5:41 AM IST: Two overs each from Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma. No trouble for New Zealand openers. Looking compact. NZ - 4/0 (4); Tom Latham - 4 (14), Tom Blundell 0 (10).

5:19 AM IST: Jasprit Bumrah to start the proceedings. Tom Latham and Tom Blundell are the openers for New Zealand.

5:13 AM IST: Resuming at an overnight score of 122 for 5, India lost the rest of the five wickets adding just 43 runs. Debutante Kyle Jamieson and veteran Tim Southee took four wickets apiece. Jamieson (4/49 in 16 overs) and Southee (4/49 in 20.1 overs) took four of the five wickets that fell on the second morning with India adding only 43 runs to their overnight score of 122 for 5.

Rishabh Pant (19) started with a six but then a horrible mix-up with senior partner Ajinkya Rahane (46) resulted in a run-out and the little chances of recovery was gone for good. Ravichandran Ashwin got a beauty from Southee, pretty similar to what Prithvi Shaw got, while Rahane inside-edged one while trying to leave it alone.

It was Mohammed Shami (21), who chanced his arms a bit hitting a few blows that got India above 150-run mark. He added 22 runs with Ishant Sharma for the ninth wicket. They were both out in quick succession as the innings folded in only 68.1 overs.

Brief Score:

India 1st Innings: 165 allout in 68.1 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 46; Kyle Jamieson 4/39).

5:10 AM IST: Tim Southee strikes again. Mohammed Shami (21 off 20) caught by Tom Blundell. And India are all out for 165. 

5:04 AM IST: Debutant Kyle Jamieson got his fourth scalp. A well-directed bouncer and Ishant Sharma is gone. Caught behind. FoW - 165/9 (67.3). Mohammed Shami, by the way, is playing a gem of an innings. He is unbeaten on 21 off 19. And it's drinks!

4:39 AM IST: Bad to worse for India. Ajinkya Rahane is gone. Caught behind. Third wicket for Tim Southee. 143/8 (62.3). Rahane made 46 off 138. Mohammed Shami is the new man.

4:24 AM IST: Horror show continues. Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant in a massive mix-up after the former played the second ball of the 59th over to backward point. Direct hit from Ajaz Patel at the striker's end. Ravichandran Ashwin got an absolute stunner from Tim Southee. Off stump gone. IND 132/7 (58.3); Ajinkya Rahane 39 (126), Ishant Sharma 0 (3)

4:06 AM IST: First six of the match. And who else? Rishabh Pant lofts the fourth ball of the 56th over, over deep mid-wicket. Seven runs from the over. IND - 129/5 (56); Ajinkya Rahane (38 off 123), Rishabh Pant (17 off 42).

4:01 AM IST: Ajaz Patel to start the proceedings, to Rishabh Pant.

3:58 AM IST: So here are the session timings (IST):

1. 4 AM to 6 AM
- Lunch -
2. 6:40 AM to 8:55 AM
- Tea -
3. 9:15 AM to 11:30 AM

3:50 AM IST: Weather first. It's cloudy and windy. And teams are already warming up. Expect full day's play today. But again, it will depend on how the wind 'plays'.

India lost their top-five, but vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (38) held one end to give the visitors an outside chance of posting a good first innings total. With Rishabh Pant (10), Rahane had added 21 runs for the sixth wicket as India struggled to 122 for 5 when the play was stopped.

Put into bat, India lost Prithvi Shaw (16), Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and Virat Kohli (2) before lunch at the Kiwi pacers produced a disciplined performance under overcast conditions. Mayank Agarwal showed grit and determination in his 84-ball knock, but a poor shot selection just after lunch meant that India were down four. Hanuma Vihari didn't last long either.

For New Zealand, debutant Kyle Jamieson took three wickets for 38 runs while Tim Southee and Trent Boult got one each.

Playing XIs

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult.

India: PlayingPrithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.