PUNE: On Thursday, the first day of the second Test in Pune, India’s Washington Sundar took seven wickets, a career high, and his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin took three to dismiss New Zealand for 259 before the hosts reached 16-1 at stumps.
India’s skipper Rohit Sharma was bowled by Tim Southee for a nine-ball duck, but Shubman Gill was unbeaten on ten and Yashasvi Jaiswal was six not out at the conclusion of a fascinating day.
Sundar, who was selected in place of Kuldeep Yadav after India’s eight-wicket loss in the series opener in Bengaluru, finished with 7-59, slicing through New Zealand’s middle and lower order.
“What transpired today is a fulfillment of a dream. Sundar stated, “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be living the dream.” For a few weeks, I had planned for this to happen in this particular series. I am extremely grateful for how it came through.
“Two days ago, I knew I was going to play this game. Since I was not on the squad to begin the series, this is a fantastic opportunity; I am extremely grateful to the coach and captain for providing me with this opportunity.
Ashwin scored 3-64 as India took advantage of the turn available at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium to cheaply dismiss the tourists at 197-3.
Before Sundar took over and put India in a strong position, Devon Conway scored 76 in the first innings of the Black Caps’ series-opening victory, nine runs short of a century. Rachin Ravindra scored 65, however.
In the first Test, Ravindra continued where he left off with scores of 134 and 39 not out, reaching his fifty with back-to-back fours off Akash Deep as India’s shoulders began to drop late in the afternoon.
UNPLAYABLE DELIVERIES Before tea, Sundar lifted the mood with a few unplayable deliveries that castled Tom Blundell (3) and Ravindra (3).
He came back after the break to get rid of Daryl Mitchell (18), Glenn Phillips (9), Southee (5), and Ajaz Patel (4), leaving the touring side in a state of shock.
The left-hander’s stumps were shattered by yet another peach of a delivery from Sundar, and Mitchell Santner was the last to leave for an entertaining 33.
Conway had earlier scored his third fifty in four innings when he hit Jasprit Bumrah for two more runs in the same over after lunch with a driven boundary.
He also used the reverse sweep well, but Ashwin mistimed his drive and caught him behind. Ashwin took his 531st wicket, passing Australia’s Nathan Lyon for seventh on the all-time list.
After deciding to bat, New Zealand got off to a good start as captain Tom Latham and Conway safely navigated the fast bowlers. However, after seven overs, India responded by introducing spin.
Sundar also received early assistance from the black-soil wicket after Ashwin had Latham trapped plumb in front of the wicket for 15 with a ball that drifted and turned.
Ashwin struck again by having Will Young caught behind for 18 after a successful review when the batsman attempted to tickle one down the leg side. New Zealand continued to rotate the strike to punish the occasional bad delivery.
After losing the first Test, India’s record of winning 18 consecutive home series is at risk. The last match is in Mumbai right on time one month from now.
New Zealand’s Scoreboard (First Innings):
T. Latham walked off Ashwin 15 D. Conway walked off Pant 76 W. Young walked off Pant 18 R. Ravindra walked off Sundar 65 D. Mitchell walked off Sundar 18 T. Blundell walked off Sundar 3 G. Phillips walked off Ashwin 9 M. Santner walked off Sundar 33 T. Southee walked off Sundar 5 A. Patel walked off Sundar 4 W. O’Rourke 0 EX 1-32 for Latham; 2-76 for Young; 3-138 for Conway; 4-197 for Ravindra; 5-201 for Blundell; 6-204 for Mitchell; 7-236 for Phillips; 8-242 for Southee; and 9-252 for Patel. 8-2-32-0 Bumrah; Deep 6-0, 41-0, 1NB 24-2, 64, 3 Ashwin; 23.1-4-59-7, Sundar (1nb); Jadeja, India, 18-0-53-0 (1nb), first inning:
Y. Jaiswal not out 6
R. Sharma b Southee 0
S. Gill not out 10
Additional items 0
All out (for one wicket, 11 overs) 16
FALL OF WICKET: 1-1 (Sharma) BAT STILL: A. Deep BOWLING: V. Kohli, S. Khan, R. Pant, R. Jadeja, W. Sundar, R. Ashwin, and J. Bumrah 3-1-4-1 Southee; 3-2-5-0 for O’Rourke; Patel 3-1-5-0; UMPIRES: Santner 2-0-2-0: TV UMPIRE: Paul Reiffel (Australia) and Richard Illingworth (England) England’s Michael Gough is the match referee: Australia’s David Boon
