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Day Two Report: Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar took five wickets to put New Zealand in the woods as India took giant strides towards an unassailable 2-0 series lead on a rain-truncated Day Two of the second cricket Test in Kolkata on Saturday. Bhuvneshwar (5-33) exploited the overcast conditions in the final session as he displayed his full repertoire of swing bowling to shave off New Zealand’s top order leaving them on 128/7 at stumps before a motley but appreciative crowd of around 7,000 at the Eden Gardens. This was the Uttar Pradesh bowler’s fourth five-wicket haul in 15 Tests. It was the first time that he achieved the feat on home soil. The other Indian pacer, Mohammad Shami (1-46) played the perfect foil to keep up the pressure on the visitors, who now trail India by 188 runs with just three wickets in hand, and need to come up with an excellent show to reverse the unfolding script. B.J. Watling (12) and Jeetan Patel (5) were in the middle at the close of play. [caption id=“attachment_3030466” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Rohit Sharma brought up his half-century in 89 balls. AP[/caption] The Kiwis had lost the first Test in Kanpur by 197 runs. In the morning, resuming at the overnight 239/7, India’s first innings ended at 316, with Wriddhiman Saha doing justice to his new-found reputation of scoring vital runs in the lower-order enroute to notching up an unbeaten half-century – the third in his Test career. Saha (54 not out; 85 balls, 7x4, 2x6) seems to have heeded Ajinkya Rahane’s statement on Friday that India needed a 300 plus score in the first innings, as he batted with determination to extend the hosts’s first essay 87 minutes into the morning session. Saha played a crucial part in two partnerships with Ravindra Jadeja for the eighth wicket (41) and Shami (35) for the last. The New Zealand batsmen struggled to cope with the swing and guile of Bhuvneshwar and Shami as both openers Tom Latham (1) and Martin Guptill (13) fell in quick succession, with the visitors on 21/2 at lunch. Bhuvneshwar was particularly sharp, first removing Martin Guptill (13) before lunch and then seeing the back of Henry Nicolls (1) in the second session with inswinging deliveries. Shami, on the other hand, struck in his first over to dismiss Latham leg before. Luke Ronchi (35; 52 balls, 5x4, 1x6) and stand-in skipper Ross Taylor (36; 80 balls, 5x4) then added 62 runs for the fourth wicket, but the partnership could have been terminated earlier had Gautam Gambhir not dropped Ronchi at short point. Just before the rain interruption, which led to a net loss of 111 minutes of playing time and an early tea break, Ronchi was trapped on his backfoot by an angled delivery from Jadeja which seemed to have gone down the leg but umpire Rod Tucker had other ideas as he gifted India another breakthrough. New Zealand were on 85/4 at the time. Bhuvneshwar, who kept up a perfect line and length, took the prized wicket of Taylor inducing a nick to the first slip. The 26-year-old bowler was on a hattrick in his 10th over, trapping debutant Mitchell Santner (9) plumb before the wicket with a low angular delivery and then unsettled the stumps of Matt Henry (0) with another beauty of a delivery. Jeetan Patel somehow managed to prevent the hatrick, as the away swinger barely missed his edge. In the morning, Saha braved a barrage of short-pitch deliveries and looked in fine touch caressing the second ball of the day through covers for four elegantly. The diminutive stumper never looked back, taking the Kiwi attack to the cleaners. Preferring the off-side, Saha hit seven fours and two sixes enroute to his half-century which he scored in 109 minutes. In the fear of running out of partners, Saha upped the ante as soon as the other overnight batsman Ravindra Jadeja fell for 14, hooking a short ball straight to long leg. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami did not last long falling to Santner and Trent Boult respectively. With inputs from IANS
India vs New Zealand Highlights, Kolkata Test, Day 3: Hosts stretch lead to 339 at stumps
Catch all the Live updates from Day three of 2nd Test between India and New Zealand in Kolkata
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After 63.2 overs, India 227/8 (Wriddhiman Saha 39, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8); lead by 339 runs
Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes down the track and launches a Santner delivery in a big strike over long-on. Henry survives a close call after a throw from substitute Bracewell at square-leg towards the non-striker’s end narrowly breezes past Henry’s head. The pacer holds his head after feeling the ball whizz past his head, and has a look of terror on his face.
Not long after, the umpires signal the end of the day’s play due to bad light, with the hosts stretching their lead past 339.
After 63.2 overs, India 227/8 (Wriddhiman Saha 39, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8); lead by 339 runs
Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes down the track and launches a Santner delivery in a big strike over long-on. Henry survives a close call after a throw from substitute Bracewell at square-leg towards the non-striker’s end narrowly breezes past Henry’s head. The pacer holds his head after feeling the ball whizz past his head, and has a look of terror on his face.
Not long after, the umpires signal the end of the day’s play due to bad light, with the hosts stretching their lead past 339.
OUT! Jaddu’s blink-and-you-miss-it innings lasts just four deliveries, in which he manages to hammer a huge six over cow-corner and face two dots before miscuing an attempted slog to substitute fielder Neesham at short fine-leg. India lose their eighth wicket with 215 on board, though their lead is a solid 327.
Ravindra Jadeja c Jimmy Neesham (sub) b Mitchell Santner 6(4)
OUT! Jaddu’s blink-and-you-miss-it innings lasts just four deliveries, in which he manages to hammer a huge six over cow-corner and face two dots before miscuing an attempted slog to substitute fielder Neesham at short fine-leg. India lose their eighth wicket with 215 on board, though their lead is a solid 327.
Ravindra Jadeja c Jimmy Neesham (sub) b Mitchell Santner 6(4)
OUT! A fantastic innings by Rohit finally comes to an end after he nicks a flatter delivery from Santner outside off to the keeper. Rohit probably was a bit surprised by the extra turn. Gets a standing ovation on his way back to the pavilion, for he produces yet another gem at the Eden Gardens!
Rohit Sharma c Luke Ronchi b Mitchell Santner 82(132)
OUT! A fantastic innings by Rohit finally comes to an end after he nicks a flatter delivery from Santner outside off to the keeper. Rohit probably was a bit surprised by the extra turn. Gets a standing ovation on his way back to the pavilion, for he produces yet another gem at the Eden Gardens!
Rohit Sharma c Luke Ronchi b Mitchell Santner 82(132)
After 60 overs, India 209/6 (Rohit Sharma 82, Wriddhiman Saha 35); lead by 321 runs
Rohit brings up the 300-run lead for India with a cut towards backward point in the 58th over, which also catapults him into the 80s. India in firm control of the proceedings at the moment, and skipper Kohli is probably thinking of declaration anytime now.
After 60 overs, India 209/6 (Rohit Sharma 82, Wriddhiman Saha 35); lead by 321 runs
Rohit brings up the 300-run lead for India with a cut towards backward point in the 58th over, which also catapults him into the 80s. India in firm control of the proceedings at the moment, and skipper Kohli is probably thinking of declaration anytime now.
After 55 overs, India 186/6 (Rohit Sharma 66, Wriddhiman Saha 28); lead by 298 runs
Santner offers Rohit plenty of room outside off with a flighted delivery, which the latter justifiably punishes through cover to move to 60. Punishes Patel in the following over, this time punching through the covers on the backfoot. The partnership between the two is worth 80 at the end of the 55th over. Also, India’s lead is two short of 300 at the moment.
After 55 overs, India 186/6 (Rohit Sharma 66, Wriddhiman Saha 28); lead by 298 runs
Santner offers Rohit plenty of room outside off with a flighted delivery, which the latter justifiably punishes through cover to move to 60. Punishes Patel in the following over, this time punching through the covers on the backfoot. The partnership between the two is worth 80 at the end of the 55th over. Also, India’s lead is two short of 300 at the moment.
After 50 overs, India 171/6 (Rohit Sharma 53, Wriddhiman Saha 26); lead by 283 runs
FIFTY FOR ROHIT SHARMA! The Mumbai batsman continues to flourish at Eden Gardens, and the crowd roars in unison after he gets to the milestone with a boundary towards long-leg off a paddle-sweep. Big relief not only for Rohit, whose knock couldn’t have come at a better stage, but also for skipper Virat Kohli, who has consistently backed his selection in the side!
After 50 overs, India 171/6 (Rohit Sharma 53, Wriddhiman Saha 26); lead by 283 runs
FIFTY FOR ROHIT SHARMA! The Mumbai batsman continues to flourish at Eden Gardens, and the crowd roars in unison after he gets to the milestone with a boundary towards long-leg off a paddle-sweep. Big relief not only for Rohit, whose knock couldn’t have come at a better stage, but also for skipper Virat Kohli, who has consistently backed his selection in the side!
After 45 overs, India 157/6 (Rohit Sharma 46, Wriddhiman Saha 19); lead by 269 runs
Rohit barely had any role during his partnership, but is anchoring the Indian innings quite admirably. Hammers boundaries off Wagner — towards extra-cover and through gully respectively — to move into the 40s. Brings up the 50-stand with Saha in the 45th over — a much-needed stand for the hosts given the state that they found themselves in earlier.
After 45 overs, India 157/6 (Rohit Sharma 46, Wriddhiman Saha 19); lead by 269 runs
Rohit barely had any role during his partnership, but is anchoring the Indian innings quite admirably. Hammers boundaries off Wagner — towards extra-cover and through gully respectively — to move into the 40s. Brings up the 50-stand with Saha in the 45th over — a much-needed stand for the hosts given the state that they found themselves in earlier.