IND vs NZ: Rishabh Pant sets new record with blazing half-century on Day 2 of Mumbai Test

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant slammed half-centuries and stitched together a solid partnership for the fifth wicket as India began Day 2 of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai on a positive note. While Gill was relatively sedate, Pant began attacking from ball one and brought up the milestone in just 36 deliveries, registering the fastest Test fifty by an Indian batter against New Zealand in the process.

Wicketkeeper-batter Pant, who was batting on 1 overnight after taking a single off his very first delivery, struck seven fours and two sixes en route to his 13th Test half-century – his third fifty-plus score in five matches. A majority of those fours came in the very first over of the day, with Pant smashing left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel for three boundaries in the first four deliveries, the first two hit down the ground after advancing down the ground.

Gill brought up his seventh Test half-century in the same over as Pant although he took 66 balls to reach the milestone, 30 more than his batting partner. This was shortly after Pant brought up fifty of the partnership with a four and a six off Patel.

The pair have put the hosts in prime position to collect a first innings lead for the first time in the three-Test series. The Black Caps, meanwhile, were guilty of squandering a couple of chances in the morning session after collecting three quick wickets shortly before close of play on Friday. Substitute fielder Mark Chapman gave Shubman Gill a reprieve on 45 after dropping a catch near long on off Glenn Phillips’ bowling in the 27th over.

Phillips would then miss out on another wicket-taking opportunity after pacer Matt Henry spilled a chance near long off, with Pant getting a lifeline shortly after bringing up his half-century.

Pant, however, would eventually be dismissed with a little over half-an-hour left in the morning session after getting trapped LBW off Ish Sodhi’s bowling on 60, the leg-spinner breaking an aggressive partnership that was worth 96 runs.

New Zealand had been bowled out for 235 on Day 1, with Daryl Mitchell (82) and Will Young (71) leading the way with half-centuries and spinners Ravindra Jadeja (5/65) and Washington Sundar (4/81) sharing nine wickets between them. India, in reply, were 86/4 at stumps , losing three wickets in quick succession after a solid second-wicket partnership between Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30).