Ind vs NZ: Hosts bowled out for 438 at tea on Day 2

Hyderabad: A century partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni put India in a commanding position as the team amassed 438 before being bowled out at the stroke of tea on day two of their opening Test against New Zealand here today. Resuming at 307 for five after a 26-minute delay because of bad weather, India gained from the partnership between Pujara and Dhoni who put on a fine 127-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Pujara was dismissed in the post-lunch session after his brilliant innings of 159 (306 balls, 19x4, 1x6). [caption id=“attachment_428953” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pujara and Dhoni have put India in a commanding position in the first Test. AP[/caption] Dhoni gave him fine support at the other end with a 73 (147 balls, 6x4, 1x6), the skipper’s 25th half-century in 68 Tests. Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with a 54-ball 37 (5x4) and shared a 24-run stand with the Dhoni before the skipper got out. India were bundled out after Umesh Yadav ran himself out just ahead of the tea break. Off-spinner Jeetan Patel became the visitors leading wicket-taker with 4/100, while Trent Boult scalped 3/93. The hosts, playing their first match after the retirement of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, were in no trouble against the weak New Zealand attack as Pujara carried on from where he left yesterday. Unbeaten on an overnight score of 119, his maiden century in four Tests, Pujara cleverly rotated the strike. Dhoni, meanwhile, completed his half-century, flicking Bracewell towards deep midwicket while Pujara touched 150 pulling the same bowler through fine leg boundary. Soon after lunch, Pujara ran out of patience as he stepped out to mistime Patel as James Franklin took an easy catch. Dhoni and Zaheer Khan (0) departed in quick successions with India 414 for eight but Ashwin and Ojha frustrated the Kiwis with their dogged approach. Resuming at 307 for five, India started the second day’s proceedings watchfully with Kiwi pacer Trent Boult bowling a maiden over to Dhoni. The Indian skipper took 20 balls to score his first runs of the day. Dhoni was troubled by Kiwi pacers Chris Martin and Boult on more than one occasion but the skipper held on to the crease. PTI