Kanpur, Nov 28 (UNI) New Zealand bowlers led by Tim Southee swung the morning session in their favor in which they scalped Mayank Agarwal and Ravindra Jadeja as India were reduced to 84 for 5 with an overall lead of 133 runs at lunch on Day 4 of the first Test at Green Park Stadium here on Sunday.
Kayle Jamieson opened the floodgates with a snorter to get rid of Cheteshwar Pujara who was caught behind by Tom Blundell. The early wicket infused confidence into the visiting bowlers. Ajaz Patel came into the act and nailed captain Ajinkya Rahane to put India under pressure.
Southee capitalised on the situation and unleashed made a double-strike, dismantling Mayank and Jadeja to shake Indian batsmen's confidence. However, first innings centurion Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin held the fort, showing a balance of aggression and steadiness.
As the unconquered batsmen walk on to the field post-lunch session, they need to have a big partnership to ensure India does not lose the Test, and go for the kill when New Zealand return to chase the target.
But New Zealand bowlers will be eager to get the prize wicket of Iyer after lunch to bundle out India quickly.
Resuming the innings at 14 for 1, Pujara (22) played with a fair bit of intent, scoring runs off loose deliveries, but soon went back into the hut after he gloved one down the leg off Jamieson's short delivery.
Rahane (4) also walked back to the hut after Ajaz trapped him plumb in front and the umpire did not have any hesitation in raising the finger.
Mayank (17) was caught at second slip off Southee and Jadeja trapped LBW for a duck in the same over, leaving India in the doldrums with the score board reading 51 for 5 with a lead of just 100 runs.
Both Iyer (18 no) and Ashwin (20 no), however showed intent to stay at the crease and did not miss the opportunity to dispatch a few balls on offer over the ropes to keep India in the hunt.
Brief scores: India 345 (Shreyas Iyer 105, Shubman Gill 52, Ravindra Jadeja 50; Tim Southee 5-69) and 84/5 (Chestershwar Pujara 22*; Kyle Jamieson 2-21, Tim Southee 2-27) lead New Zealand 296 (Tom Latham 95, Will Young 89; Axar Patel 5-62) by 133 runs.
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