India’s top-order batsmen performed woefully on a challenging track as the side crawled to 122 for 5 with New Zealand’s towering pacer Kyle Jamieson rattling the visiting big guns on his debut on a rain-hit opening day of the first Test. Jamieson had a dream debut by picking up 3/38 till the wet outfield and rain forced early stumps as only 55 overs were bowled when play was suspended and then eventually called off.
India vs New Zealand 1st Test
Friday’s play was called off after tea due to a heavy downpour, the gloomy conditions typifying India’s batting blues with only Ajinkya Rahane (38 batting off 122 balls) matching wares when it came to winning the mental battle. The 6″8′ Jamieson could not have asked for a better start, picking up 3 for 38 in 14 overs and his prized scalps included two of India’s best long-form batsmen – skipper Virat Kohli (2) and the dogged Cheteshwar Pujara (14 off 42 balls).
New Zealand began the opening Test of the series on the right note as Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl on a green Basin Reserve pitch under overcast conditions.
Playing XIs
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult
India (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
Highlights of the Day 1:
Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal commence the Indian innings. Tim Southee backed his captain’s decision with the wicket of Prithvi Shaw (16) as the India opener was undone by a peach of a delivery by the pacer in the fifth over. Cheteshwar Pujara the new man in. Test debutant Jamieson then dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and India skipper Virat Kohli (2) before lunch to leave India reeling at 43-3 (18). Throughout the ongoing New Zealand tour, Kohli has managed to score just a single fifty across 8 innings in all 3 international formats. Rahane has joined Mayank after Kohli’s dismissal.
After three early wickets, Mayank Agarwal and Ajinkya Rahane joined hands and made sure India headed to Lunch without any further hiccups.
Just when the partnership for the fourth wicket was starting to take shape for India post-lunch, Mayank (34) was dismissed by Trent Boult. Mayank tried a hook shot off Boult and was caught by Kyle Jamieson, who took a tumbling catch running in from long leg. Hanuma Vihari (7) was Jamieson’s third victim as he edged a pitched up delivery to nick behind.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant were out in the middle as India avoided any further dents to reach 122 for 5 at tea on Day 1. Pant and Rahane have a partnership of 21 runs from 83 balls after a stunning top-order collapse. Thunderstorms followed by rain in the middle of the tea break made sure that the third session was washed out on Friday.
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