Published 12:29 IST, March 1st 2020
Batsmen waste Shami-Bumrah's brilliant show, India on verge of another defeat
India's top-order frittered away a golden chance with another shoddy batting as New Zealand regained complete control after Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah's hostile fast-bowling spell had given the visitors a slender first-innings lead in the second Test here on Sunday
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India's top-order frittered away a golden chance with ar shoddy batting as New Zealand regained complete control after Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah's hostile fast-bowling spell h given visitors a slender first-innings le in second Test here on Sunday. Shami (4/81 in 23.1 overs) and Bumrah (3/62 in 22 overs) were brilliant in ir execution, dismissing New Zealand for 235 in 73.1 overs as y showed why y are one of deliest fast bowling pair in Test match cricket.
However, India's top-order failed miserably once again as New Zealand bounced back, reducing India to 90 for six at stumps on day two as a three-day finish is on cards. India is w effectively 97 runs ahe with only four wickets in hand and it will take a miraculous effort to avert ar series whitewash after ODIs. Trent Boult (3/12 in 9 overs) got Mayank Agarwal (3) and Cheteshwar Pujara (24) with conventional inswingers that tails into right-handers. Prithvi Shaw (14) was out in familiar fashion, fending a short ball from Tim Soue, while skipper Virat Kohli's (14) indecisive footwork brought his downfall once again.
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Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was hit on helmet, paid price for an ugly shot, while Umesh Yav expectedly didn't survive a rampaging Boult after he was inexplicably sent in as nightwatchman when nearly half an hour was left.A target of 250 in fourth innings could well be a challenge for Black Caps as re is still something in track for speed merchants despite batsmen getting a value for ir shots.India would have ideally hoped that skipper Kohli would end his dreful tour of New Zealand with one big kck but it was t to be as Colin de Grandhomme trapped Indian captain leg before with an off-cutter.
first two sessions belonged to Shami and Bumrah, who were thing short of brilliant with ir precision length, sideways movement and an occasional heavy ball that was slipped in between. Ravindra Jeja (2/22 in 10 overs) did exactly what was required. He also took a stunning acrobatic one-hander in deep to dismiss Neil Wagner (21), which will be remembered for years to come.
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Once Umesh Yav (1/46 in 18 overs) provided breakthrough removing Tom Blundell (30), it was Bumrah and Shami, who were relentless bowling that probing off-stump line which never let any of ir batsmen settle. Bumrah must have beaten bat at least on 15 occasions, including that of opposition's only half-centurion Tom Latham (52 off 122 balls), who never looked settled during his stay. two deliveries that stood out during second day's play was one by Bumrah that got rid of Kane Williamson (3) and or by Shami, who sent back Latham.
Bumrah bowled one with angle that came back a she and it seemed like Williamson was in two minds wher to withdraw bat or play defensively. half-hearted prod only resulted in a nick that went into Rishabh Pant's gloves. In case of Latham, Shami beautifully set him up during his second spell of morning. re were a few away going deliveries which he got thick outside edges. Shami n bowled on fourth stump and Latham shouldered arms to leave ball and it turned out to be an error of judgement with ball cutting back eugh to peg off-stump back.
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Having got five wickets in first session, India were back in game and Bumrah got a couple within first few minutes after lunch as BJ Watling (0) and Tim Soue (0) were dismissed in a of three deliveries.Once de Grandhomme (26), who was playing a useful hand, was cleaned up by Jeja, India did endure a frustrating one hour period in which Kyle Jamieson (49) and Wagner ded 51 runs for ninth wicket, something that would w come back to haunt Indians.
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12:29 IST, March 1st 2020