IND v NZ 2nd Test: India lose Virat, Shikhar, Vijay before lunch

Matt's twin blow leaves India at 57-3 at lunch

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli leaves after getting out on the first day of the second cricket test match against New Zealand, in Kolkata. (AP)

 

 

Kolkata: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry rocked the Indian top-order with twin blows to reduce the hosts to 57 for 3 at lunch on the opening day of the second cricket Test at the Eden Gardens here on Friday.

The 24-year-old from Christchurch, who replaced Ish Sodhi, dismissed Shikhar Dhawan (1) and Murali Vijay (9) in the first 50 minutes in his brilliant first spell of 6-2-14-2 as the Kiwis seamers utilised the grassy condition to full effect after Kohli opted to bat.

Just when it seemed Kohli (9) was steadying the ship with a set Cheteshwar Pujara, Trent Boult dismissed the skipper who continued his string of low scores.

The skipper got carried away after an exquisite cover drive that was cheered by the small turnout and went for an IPL-like shot chasing a ball way outside the offstump to be caught brilliantly by Tom Latham who took a rising catch.

The dismissal less than half an before the lunch break pegged back India's recovery plan and at the break Pujara was unbeaten on 31 and looked defiant with Ajinkya Rahane on two.

Earlier, it was the tale of one comeback man cutting short another's when Henry dismissed Dhawan in the second over of the day.

In the second ball of his first over, Henry, who, last played in February against Australia at Christchurch, bowled Dhawan who tried to cut in a high bounce angled delivery only to drag the ball on to his stumps.

At the other end, Pujara was watchful and yet to open his account but it did not bother him even as the bounce was variable and seaming in the first hour's play.

Pujara got off the mark with two elegant boundaries on both the sides of the wicket with Vijay also looking in fine form before becoming the victim of a beauty from Henry.

Playing only in his fifth Test, Henry after repeatedly beating the outside edge bowled one straight and full delivery and Vijay had no option but to go for it as it took a faint edge down to BJ Watling behind the stumps.

Henry finished his brilliant spell with 2/14 and spin was introduced in the 14th over with left-arm orthodox Mitchell Santner.

Offspinner Jeetan Patel, 36, who is also making a comeback after more than three years as a replacement for injured Mark Craig, got promising turn from the High Court end, especially one that foxed Pujara.

Kohli stuck to his four-bowling strategy but brought in seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in place Umesh Yadav while Dhawan replaced the injured Lokesh Rahul in two changes to India XI.

The Black Caps, however, were hit hard by their skipper Kane Williamson's illness as the Test number 2 batsman could not recover from fever in time and Ross Taylor stood in as captain.

Henry Nicholls replaced Williamson, while Matt and Patel came in for Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig in the three changes to their XI from Kanpur Test which they lost by 197 runs to trail the three-match series 0-1.

Earlier, legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev started off a new tradition in India by donging the Lord's-like 'Eden Bell' that marked the start of day one's proceedings.

The giant silver-coated bell just below the Eden clock was installed on the lines of the five-minute Lord's Bell which was introduced in 2007.

Each morning the bell will be rung by different personalities to mark the start of play in the second Test. 

Brief Score

India 1st innings: 57 for 3 in 27 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 31 batting; Matt Henry 2/14).