LIVE SCORE | INDIA vs NEW ZEALAND | 2ND TEST | DAY 2
EDEN GARDENS, KOLKATA
FULL SCORECARD
NEW ZEALAND (1st innings)
SESSION 3....
There was a rain delay and that shifted momentum in India's favour even more as New Zealand lost quick wickets in that tricky session under floodlights. BJ Watling is still out there and he has a tough task tomorrow. He has to bat with the tail and he'll look to add as much as possible. The Indian bowlers would be looking to take the remaining wickets quickly so join us tomorrow where we have an early start at 0915 IST to catch all the action. Goodbye! Cheers!
Earlier in the day, India managed to cross the 300-run mark and thanks to Saha's unbeaten fifty for that. In reply, New Zealand were off to a poor start yet again as they lost their openers in no time. Taylor and Ronchi shared a 62-run stand for the fourth wicket but it was cut short as well when Jadeja got the important breakthrough of Ronchi.
What a day for India! That evening session turned out in the hosts' favour completely. The Kiwis were left reeling as they lost wickets in a bunch. They lost three quick wickets, including the big scalp of captain Ross Taylor. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was sensational with the ball as he grabbed a 5-wicket haul. New Zealand are still 188 runs behind then and have just three wickets in hand.
STUMPS: That's all for the day. New Zealand 128 for 7 in 34 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10-0-33-5.
32.2 overs: WICKET! Bhuvi is on a hat-trick! What a ball. He is making the ball talk. On a length outside off, Henry too stays back in his crease like Santner to defend but the ball jags back in, stays low and hits the off stump. 4TH 5-FER for Bhuvi, his first at home in Tests. Matt Henry b Kumar 0 (1b 0x4 0x6).
32.1 overs: WICKET! With the ball swinging, Bhuvi is no less than a king. Full and outside off, Santner stays back to defend but the ball swings back in, beats the bat and hits Santner flush on the pads. Up goes the umpire's finger without much time on the appeal. Mitchell Santner lbw b Kumar 11 (20b 2x4 0x6).
30 overs: New Zealand 110/5. Watling 5 (7b 1x4 0x6), Santner 10 (15b 2x4 0x6), Shami 10-0-39-1, Kumar 8-0-24-3.
28.1 overs: WICKET! Edged and taken! The captain is gone! Taylor is walking back with a wry smile on his face. Perhaps he did not want to continue playing in this fading light. No one can blame him. The conditions are perfect for fast bowling with the ball not that visible to the batsmen. On top of that, the pitch is behaving indifferently. Also, Kohli went for the kill, as India have nothing to lose. He gambled with fast bowlers bowling which could force the umpires to take the players off but could also produce a wicket. And the gamble worked. Bhuvi landed this on a good length outside off. Nothing special on the delivery in terms of movement. Perhaps it straightened a touch. Taylor pushed at it. The ball bounced a shade extra, hit the top portion of the bat, took the outside edge and went straight to Murali Vijay at first slip with eyes wide open. Ross Taylor c Vijay b Kumar 36 (80b 5x4 0x6). New Zealand 108 for 5, trail by 208 runs.
Right then! The players are back on the field. There is an Indian team huddle.
The play will resume at 1600 IST!
Well, the players and the officials are still waiting as the covers are still on. In fact more covers are coming on. Oh dear...
GOOD NEWS! Match is set to resume at 1530 IST. The players are coming out for warm-ups.
The ground is still fully covered and the next inspection will be at 1455 IST...
Not entirely good news but still something to boot about. The drizzle seems to have stopped and the umpires have scheduled an inspection at 1425 IST...
SESSION 2....
With still 231 runs adrift and not much batting to come, the visitors have their work cut out. The scheduled resumption time is 1400 IST (0830 GMT) but don't think that is going to happen. Stay tuned for updates.
A good session for India then. They struck after Lunch and got the crucial wicket of the attacking Ronchi just before the rain came. Taylor and Ronchi had offered good resistance with a 62-run stand before Ronchi was dismissed by Jadeja. Earlier, Nicholls was cleaned up by Kumar.
Early TEA has been taken. The weather has started to clear a touch but it is still drizzling. The entire ground is covered.
The umpires take the players off the field. COVERS ARE ON! Wicket at the wrong time for New Zealand then. It looks just a drizzle though. Stay tuned as we'll keep you posted with latest updates...
24.4 overs: WICKET! Jadeja gets his man! Tossed up ball on the pads, Ronchi tries to defend but misses and he's rapped on the pads. There is a confident appeal for a leg before by Jadeja and co. and the umpire raises his finger this time. Jadeja celebrates and India get a vital breakthrough. Ronchi walks back and New Zealand slip further. Luke Ronchi lbw b Jadeja 35 (52b 5x4 1x6).
10 overs: New Zealand 40/3. Luke Ronchi 9 (9), Ross Taylor 12 (25).
6.4 overs: WICKET! Another indecision, another dismissal! It has been that sort of a day for the Kiwis. The batsmen have not quite been able to judge the bounce and hence that indecision to play or leave has been clouding their minds. On a good length around off, angling away, Nicholls looks to defend but the ball straightens a touch, takes the inside edge and hits the stumps. Henry Nicholls b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1 (11b 0x4 0x6).
Welcome back for the post-lunch session. New Zealand on the back foot is an understatement. They have a mountain to climb and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the heat. The players are back out in the middle. Mohammed Shami will begin proceedings to Ross Taylor. Here we go...
It is looking very, very difficult for New Zealand at the moment. The confidence is down and their fighting skipper Kane Williamson is not playing. Can the acting captain step up and give a fight? Join us back at 1210 IST (0640 GMT) for the second session.
SESSION 1...
LUNCH: An all-India session. That lunch will taste fantastic. First, their lower order frustrated New Zealand to rally the score past 300 and then the bowlers came out and dismissed both the opening batsmen to put the hosts in a very strong position. New Zealand 21 for 2 in 5 overs.
2.4 overs: WICKET! New Zealand have lost their second wicket. Martin Guptill b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 13 (13b 3x4 0x6).
1.5 overs: WICKET! Shami draws first blood! Bowls a length ball around off, angling in towards the southpaw, Latham is forced to defend but misses it completely and gets hit on the pads. There is a big appeal for a leg before and the umpire raises his finger. Joy for India as they manage to get an early breakthrough. Tom Latham lbw b Mohammed Shami 1 (2b 0x4 0x6).
INDIA (1st innings)
Ideally, a team would love to see its opposition to get bowled out under 320 after being asked to bowl first. But this is not a flat deck and as we have been seeing since yesterday, batting has not been easy. Also, with Williamson absent, it will be extremely difficult to hang around. They have an irritating 20-minute session coming up, which is very nervy for all batsmen, with lunch scheduled around the corner. Stay tuned...
The Kiwis were not at their best with the ball this morning. The lines were not probing enough and not consistent either. The pitch looks like it is getting some turn and bounce and the Black Caps have their hands full.
A respectable score put up by India. They added 77 runs this morning for the loss of 3 wickets. Saha and Jadeja saw off the opening hour with ease and then the former did well to get to his half century.
104.5 overs: WICKET! Henry has taken a blinder. Short of a length ball on middle and leg, Shami goes for the pull shot but doesn't connect it that well. The ball goes towards fine leg where Henry sprints to his right and flies to take a stunning catch. The Kiwi fielders are terrific on the field and with that, India's first innings comes to an end as they've ended up on 316! Mohammed Shami c Henry b Boult 14 (14b 3x4 0x6).
101.6 overs: That's fifty for Wriddhiman Saha. Very important innings for India. India 304/9.
99.4 overs: WICKET! Given this time. Although, this looked like a benefit of doubt could have been given to the batsman. The arm ball, around middle, Kumar comes forward to defend but misses and is hit on the front pad. Santner appeals and this time the umpire raises his finger! The ball still had some distance to go and could have missed the leg stump. Bhuvneshwar Kumar lbw b Santner 5 (11b 1x4 0x6).
96.2 overs: WICKET! Wagner breaks the dangerous-looking stand. A short ball around middle, Jadeja pulls it away but cannot keep it down. It goes straight down the throat of Matt Henry at deep backward square leg who makes no mistake. Wagner gets his second. Jadeja departs, he was not looking comfortable this morning. Ravindra Jadeja c Henry b Wagner 14 (31b 0x4 1x6).
90 overs: India 252/7. Wriddhiman Saha 25 (40), Ravindra Jadeja 2 (12).
86 overs bowled, 239 runs scored and 7 wickets taken. As expected, there is not much to choose between India and New Zealand after the completion of the opening day of the second Test at Eden Gardens. The Kiwis started off well but then the home side fought back before the visitors did well in the final session to gain a slight edge. Can they restrict the hosts to under 270 today? Or will India get to 300 which is a competitive score on this track? Hello and a warm welcome to the second day of the second Test between India and New Zealand at Eden Gardens.