Mumbai, Nov 2 (UNI) India reached 195/5 at lunch on Day 2 against New Zealand, narrowing their deficit to 40 runs in a lively session marked by Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 60 and Shubman Gill’s steady, unbeaten 70.
After New Zealand were bowled out for 235 on Day 1, India resumed with intent on Saturday, adding 77 runs in the morning session before Pant’s dismissal to Ish Sodhi’s LBW.
Pant set the tone early, launching a fierce counterattack against Ajaz Patel, striking three boundaries in one over and maintaining an aggressive 4.53 run rate. His 36-ball fifty featured eight boundaries and two sixes, sending the Wankhede spectators into a frenzy. However, New Zealand's Sodhi finally broke through Pant's momentum just before lunch, successfully reviewing an LBW appeal that was upheld, ending Pant's blistering knock.
Gill remained resilient on the other end, stabilising the innings even after a missed catch at 45, anchoring with an unflappable 70. Ravindra Jadeja joined him briefly before the interval. New Zealand’s fielders let slip two key chances to remove Pant, and Phillips, though unlucky with missed opportunities, posed consistent pressure.
As the teams headed for lunch, the hosts appeared well-placed to erase the remaining deficit, with Gill and Jadeja tasked to take India beyond New Zealand's first-innings score.
Brief scores: New Zealand First Innings 235 all out; India 195/5 in 43 overs, Shubman Gill 70*, Rishabh Pant 60; Ish Sodhi 1/37, Ajaz Patel 2/76.
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