Kolkata : Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s spell of five-wicket haul after a late batting recovery put India firmly in command as they reduced New Zealand to 128 for seven on the rain-hit second day of the second test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
India, resumed at 239/7,set a good total on a pitch which was tough for batting ,as in the morning session Wriddhiman Saha (54 not out) batted brilliantly to score his third Test half-century to help the team reach 316 all out in 104.5 overs.
In reply, the Kiwis were tottering at 128/7, still 188 runs behind and facing the prospect of another big defeat after the 197-run drubbing in the opening Test in Kanpur.
The man for the day was Bhuvneshwar with a sensational spell of 5-33, his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, from 10 overs that broke the back of New Zealand’s batting.
The Kiwis faced 34 overs in all today after the final session was held up due to wet ground conditions and stumps were drawn early due to bad light.
It was a great turnaround for India, who was reduced to 239/7 on Day 1 on a pitch that offered uneven bounce. But the lower order came up with a confident performance to push India over the 300-run mark, helped to a large extent by Saha’s great knock which came off 85 balls and was laced with seven fours and two hits over the boundary line.
With a good total on the board, the Indian bowlers were on top against their rivals in the post-lunch session, reducing them to 85 for 4.
However, weather played spoilsport close to tea and an early break was taken which eventually lasted two and a half hours.Passing showers of less than 10 minutes were enough to leave the ground unplayable for more than two hours. However, once play got underway, Bhuvneshwar lit up the gloomy atmosphere with his fiery spell.
Included in place of Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar was at his level best bowling a tidy line and length as he removed stand-in skipper Ross Taylor (36) in his first over after play was resumed following a two and half hours delay. Bowling a beautiful line, Bhuvneshwar dismissed Taylor after he jabbed the ball at first slip and took two wickets in two balls by removing Mitchell Santner (11) and Matt Henry (0) off successive balls. Mohammed Shami (1/46) bowled with pace and bounce to tighten the noose at the other end.
Reduced to 23/3 shortly after lunch break when Bhuvneshwar took Henry Nicholls, Taylor and Ronchi (35) put in their best effort to build a partnership but it did not last long with Jadeja (1/17) cutting it short at 62 runs. Ronchi was trapped on his backfoot by Jadeja off a delivery which seemed to be going down the leg but umpire Rod Tucker had other ideas.
India lead the three-match series 1-0 with their great 197 runs victory in Kanpur Test.
Brief Scores:
India 1st innings: 316
New Zealand: 128 for seven in 34 overs (Luke Ronchi 35, Ross Taylor 36; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5/33).