India vs New Zealand | Kiwis end up on top after Pujara-Rahane shine on Day 1

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk,SportsCafe Editor

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New Zealand ended the day 1 of the second Test on top after reducing India to 239/7 on the back of some late blows at the Eden Gardens today. Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had taken India on course for a formidable total from a dangerous score of 57/3 with fifties apiece.

Brief scores : India 239/7 in 86 overs (Pujara 87, Rahane 77; Matt Henry 3/35, Patel 2/66)

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the Indian batsmen were immediately put to test as an excellent spell of seam bowling from Matt Henry on his Test comeback ensured New Zealand were off to a good start.

Returning Matt Henry does well

Shikhar Dhawan, brought into the side ahead of Gautam Gambhir, played it on to his stumps in an attempted cut with just one run on the board. Cheteshwar Pujara, who walked in after Dhawan's dismissal, looked to be in fine touch as his assured batting alongside Murali Vijay appeared to set them up for a huge partnership. But, another seaming delivery from Henry got an edge off Murali Vijay's bat and flew safely into keeper BJ Watling's gloves to break the second-wicket partnership.

Skipper Virat Kohli's poor performances continued in the series, as he went in search of a Trent Boult delivery pitched wide of the off stump to be caught brilliantly by Tom Latham at gully. India ended the first session at 57/3 with Pujara and Rahane trying to repair the early damage.

Rahane and Pujara stabilize

Post lunch break, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara played a patient innings in order to put breaks on New Zealand's rhythm by slowing down the scoring rate. After getting set at the crease, both the batsmen started playing shots denting the confidence that the Kiwi bowlers had gained after the first session. Pujara, who displayed his technical prowess right from the start, soon reached his third consecutive fifty in as many innings on the back of some fluent batting.

Rahane remained solid at the other end grinding both the spinners and pacers with his defence while playing some beautiful drives off loose balls. With their partnership nearing hundred runs, Pujara and Rahane went into the tea break with the score at 134/3.

New Zealand fire back

After having lost their edge in the second session, Kiwi bowlers once again made a comeback as stand-in captain Ross Taylor's persistence with his pacers paid off. Nearing his hundred at 87, Pujara went for an uppish drive off Wagner but the ball flew straight to Martin Guptill at short cover.

Meanwhile, spinner Jeetan Patel started to get some turn off the pitch, and he removed Rohit Sharma with a short pitch delivery thanks to an excellent catch from Tom Latham. Ashwin and Rahane then tried to pull things back for India, but Patel struck immediately by getting Rahane leg before with a flatter delivery. Ashwin who was scoring quickly then was given LBW off a Matt Henry ball to put India in a stuttering position. Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha ensured that India did not lose any more wickets on the day as the hosts ended at 239/7 after having looked set for a 300+ total at one time.

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