Mumbai, Nov 1 (UNI) An exhilarating Day 2 of the Test match saw New Zealand leading by 143 runs at 171/9 in their second innings, with a total of 348 runs scored and an astonishing 15 wickets falling on a spiteful wicket at the Wankhede Stadium.
The match remains finely poised, promising a gripping conclusion as both teams battle for dominance.
The match, marked by swift momentum shifts, witnessed the visitors battling hard to gain the upper hand as Indian bowlers, particularly Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, delivered a relentless display of spin bowling.
Resuming after tea with a slender lead, Will Young anchored the innings with his second fifty of the match, scoring a solid 51 off 100 balls, including two boundaries and a six. However, New Zealand struggled to maintain partnerships, losing wickets at regular intervals. The crucial stand between Young and Daryl Mitchell (21) was broken when Jadeja dismissed Mitchell, with Ashwin taking a brilliant catch, halting a promising 50-run partnership.
Jadeja continued his stellar form, claiming the wicket of Tom Blundell (4) and further dismantling New Zealand's middle order. Glenn Phillips injected some momentum with a quickfire 26 off just 14 balls, hitting three sixes, but Ashwin's carrom ball ultimately dismissed him, providing India with a much-needed breakthrough.
Jadeja and Ashwin's sharp spin, combined with Washington Sundar's economical bowling, kept New Zealand under constant pressure. Jadeja ended the day with remarkable figures of 4 wickets for 52 runs, including the clean-bowled dismissal of Matt Henry in the final over, wrapping up a gripping day's play.
As India returns on Day 3, they will aim to wrap up New Zealand's innings quickly. With New Zealand leading by 143 runs, the match remains finely poised as both sides vie for control.
Earlier in the day, India found themselves slightly ahead at tea, trailing New Zealand by a mere 2 runs after suffering a dramatic collapse, bowled out for 263 runs. Resuming the session at 195 for 5, India quickly lost their remaining wickets, surrendering control of the match.
Ajaz Patel led New Zealand’s charge, claiming the crucial wicket of Shubman Gill, who was looking in sublime form with 90 runs. Gill fell victim to a classic spinner’s dismissal, caught at first slip by Daryl Mitchell. Ravindra Jadeja, who had been batting steadily at 14, also succumbed to pressure, falling to Glenn Phillips.
The Indian innings faltered further as Sarfaraz Khan was dismissed for a duck, raising concerns about his form during critical moments. However, Washington Sundar provided some much-needed resistance, scoring a quick 38 runs, including two sixes and four boundaries, briefly reviving hopes for the Indian camp.
Patel's exceptional bowling earned him figures of 5 for 103, marking his sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket and reinforcing his reputation as a formidable bowler on Asian pitches.
New Zealand's innings began poorly, losing opener Tom Latham to Akash Deep on just the second ball. Latham was bowled out, leaving the visitors at a precarious 2 for 1. Devon Conway managed to steady the innings with 15 runs, while Will Young remained at 8 as the tea break arrived with New Zealand at 26 for 1, just 2 runs shy of India’s total.
As the match stands finely balanced, both teams are eager to assert their dominance when play resumes, setting the stage for an exhilarating conclusion to this crucial Test.
Brief Scores: New Zealand (2nd Innings) 171/9 in 60 overs (Will Young 51; Ravindra Jadeja 4/52); India (1st Innings) 263 all out in 80.2 overs (Shubman Gill 90; Ajaz Patel 5/103); New Zealand (1st Innings) 235 all out in 65.4 overs (Daryl Mitchell 81, Will Young 71); Ravindra Jadeja 5/65, Washington Sundar 4/81).
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