India’s top-order frittered away a golden chance with another shoddy batting show as New Zealand regained complete control of the second Test after Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah’s hostile fast-bowling spell had given the visitors a slender first-innings lead here on Sunday.
Shami (4/81 in 23.1 overs) and Bumrah (3/62in 22 overs) were brilliant in their execution, dismissing New Zealand for 235in 73.1 overs as they showed why they are one of deadliest fast bowling pair inTest match cricket.
However, India’s top-order failed miserablyonce again as New Zealand bounced back, reducing India to 90 for six in theirsecond innings at stumps on day two as a third day finish is on the cards.
India is now effectively 97 runs ahead withonly four wickets in hand and it will take a herculean effort to avert anotherseries whitewash after the ODIs.
Trent Boult (3/12 in 9 overs) got MayankAgarwal (3) and Cheteshwar Pujara (24) with conventional inswingers that tailsinto right-handers.
Prithvi Shaw (14) was out in familiarfashion, fending a short ball from Tim Southee, while skipper Virat Kohli’s(14) indecisive footwork brought his downfall once again.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was hit onthe helmet, paid the price for an ugly shot, while Umesh Yadav expectedlydidn’t survive a rampaging Boult after he was inexplicably sent in asnightwatchman when nearly half an hour was left.
A target of 250 in the fourth innings couldwell be a challenge for the Black Caps as there is still something in the trackfor the speed merchants despite batsmen getting a value for their shots.
India would have ideally hoped that skipperKohli would end his dreadful tour of New Zealand with one big knock but it wasnot to be as Colin de Grandhomme trapped him leg before with an off-cutter.
No wonder Trent Boult was happy having keptKohli quiet.
“Obviously, he is a big player forthem and we just tried to put enough pressure on him, keep him quiet and soakup those boundary balls, and it was nice to see him make a few errors,”Boult said about the Indian captain whose highest score in the whole series is19.
In the morning, the first two sessionsbelonged to Shami and Bumrah, who were nothing short of brilliant with theirprecision length, sideways movement and an occasional heavy ball that wasslipped in between.
Ravindra Jadeja (2/22 in 10 overs) didexactly what was required. He also took a stunning acrobatic one-handed catchin the deep to dismiss Neil Wagner (21), which will be remembered for years tocome.Bumrahand Shami were relentless in bowling that probing off-stump line which neverlet any of New Zealand batsmen settle down.