New Delhi:
The Kiwis have made a resounding comeback in the Kanpur Test match after India looked to be in the drivers seat till the lunch session of Day 1. The Indians squandered away a solid start courtesy a good partnerhsip between Murali VIjay and Cheteshwar Pujara.
The Kiwi spinners cast a web around the Indian middle-order to them reduced to 291 for 9 on the opening day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand.
After electing to bat in the historic 500th Test, India were well placed at 154 on the back of a well stitched 112-run second wicket stand between Vijay (65) and Pujara (62).
However, the Kiwi spinners bowled some tight spells after lunch to buckle down the Indian batsmen. What followed was some brilliant bowling by the New Zealanders and poor shot selection by the Indians which saw the Indians losing four quick wickets for just sixteen runs.
Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin led some kind of a recovery but the talented Sharma once again disappointing by falling prey to his old nemesis, a lapse in concentration. Ravichandran Ashwin looked well settled on the crease before being dismissed to a brilliant delivery from Trent Boult.
While left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (3/77) rocked the top-order, it was Boult, who looked menacing with the second new ball finishing with figures of 3/57 in 17 overs. Boult bowled with fire in his final spell to dismiss wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha (0) and polish of the Indian tail.
At the end of the Day's play, Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 11 at with Umesh Yadav (8).
The Green Park track which was not deemed to be turner on the first day itself did offer some assistance to the spinners. The Kiwis plan of fielding three spinners in Mitchell Santner, offie Mark Craig and leg-break bowler Ish Sodhi worked brilliantly against the Indians.
