Ashwin Strikes Twice But New Zealand Reach 92/2 At Lunch On Day 1

  Ravichandran Ashwin snared two wickets in first session but New Zealand negated Indian spinners deftly on a slow and spin-friendly surface to reach 92/2 at lunch on day one of second Test here on Thursday.

Devon Conway looked assured against a three-pronged Indian spin attack to reach 47 t out (108 balls, 5x4s) with dangerous Rachin Ravindra batting on five at or end.

It only took just seven overs to determine that spinners would play a key role in game Ashwin vindicated providing first breakthrough on his fifth ball.

Ashwin got drift and turn to dismiss New Zealand captain Tom Latham (15) for ninth time in Tests as ball beat his outside edge to hit ps in front of wickets for an immediate decision from on-field umpire.

pair of Will Young (18) and Conway did well to keep things largely in favour of New Zealand as y opted a slightly cautious approach during ir 44-run association for second wicket.

While Conway deployed reverse sweep to a good effect, right-handed Young batted fluently until he edged one down leg side to gift Ashwin his second wicket of session.

Young attempted to work a delivery down leg side which perhaps could’ve been left alone, but turn and low bounce h ball brushing gloves before settling into Rishabh Pant ’s gloves.

While bowler was immediately up for an appeal, it was Sarfaraz Khan at short leg who convinced his skipper Rohit Sharma to take a review even though Pant showed visible interest for a caught-behind. As it turned out, ball h indeed brushed Young’s gloves.

Soon after, a vociferous appeal for a leg-before against Conway off Ravindra Jeja was turned down by on-field umpire but India still chose to review it, losing one appeal in process.

Ashwin, who sent down majority of 31 overs bowled in morning session, found outside edge off Conway's bat shortly before lunch but ball flew away from reach of Indian captain at first slip.

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep began proceedings with new ball but track did t favour m much, even as y put forth some questions to Kiwis' openers with sideways movement.