Ajinkya Rahane battles on as India crawl to 122 for 5 at tea in first New Zealand test

In a poor showing, Ajinkya Rahane's unbeaten 38 was saving grace from or top-order batsmen as India struggled to reach 122 for 5 at tea on first day of opening Test against New Zealand here on Friday. Tall seamer Kyle Jamieson had a dream debut picking up 3/38 in 14 overs as it was generally a struggle for batsmen on a juicy first-day track at Basin Reserve.

READ: Top-order batsmen fail as India reach 79/3 at lunch on opening day

READ: New Zealand win toss, opt to bowl in first Test against India

Kiwi pacers make things difficult for Indian batsmen

Such was disciplined effort from Black Caps bowlers that India mand only 43 runs in second session as Rahane played 122 balls, hitting four boundaries on a heavy outfield. Rishabh Pant was at or end on 10 t out. Mayank Agarwal (34 off 84 balls), who did hard work of surviving first session, was out after lunch as he tried a pull shot off Trent Boult just after surviving a tough caught and bowled chance. Hanuma Vihari (7) was Jamieson's third victim as he edged a pitched up delivery to induce a nick.

Once Kane Williamson called toss of coin right under overcast conditions, it was a challenge for Indian batsmen. Prithvi Shaw (16 off 18 balls), Cheteshwar Pujara (11 off 42 balls) and skipper Virat Kohli (2 off 7 balls) were back in pavilion with debutant Jamieson keeping up pressure after Tim Soue (1/27 in 14 overs) and Boult (1/44 in 14 overs) bowled a probing first spell. Young Shaw clipped one off Boult and also hit an uppish square cut to get two quick boundaries. But his loose technique and propensity to close his bat face was always going to cost him dearly.

Soue bowled one that looked like angling in and Shaw closed bat face as ball moved a shade away after pitching, brushing his pad and n off-stump. batsman had a dazed look kwing that his technique was thoroughly exposed on a seamer-friendly track. Pujara was ready to show a lot of patience as he started leaving deliveries outside off-stump. However, Jamieson, coming in as second change, bowled his back of length delivery on off-middle channel. Pujara had option but to jab at rising delivery which kissed outside edge of his bat and was taken by wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

A lot of hope were pinned on skipper Kohli but a smart ploy by Jamieson brought about downfall of Indian captain. Kohli was playing Jamieson for disconcerting bounce that he generated from back of length but in between, he decided to slip one fuller delivery on fourth stump channel. Kohli lunged into drive and thickish edge was taken by '100th Test man' Ross Taylor, standing at first slip, to compound India's troubles. 

READ: Gujarat's Motera stadium becomes India's first green-rated cricket stadium

READ: 'Really excited to play T20 World Cup': India's teen sensation Shafali Verma

(Im Credits: @ICC)