XtraTime Web Desk: 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 at the Basin Reserve on Friday.
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).
He also took a lovely catch in the deep to cap off a day he will remember forever.
What Jamieson did wonderfully well was mix up the back of the length stuff with fuller deliveries in between. He bowled the natural back of the length deliveries that climbed on the batsmen, pegging them on backfoot. He also mixed it up with fuller deliveries when the batsmen were just a tad unsure of their footwork.
Bowling at barely 130 kmph, he troubled the visitors making it easier for senior pros Tim Southee (1/27 in 14 overs) and Trent Boult (1/44 in 14 overs) to bowl a more probing line.
Such was the disciplined effort from the Black Caps bowlers that India managed only 43 runs in the second session.
Rahane played 122 balls, hitting four boundaries on a heavy outfield. Rishabh Pant was at the other end on 10.
Mayank Agarwal (34 off 84 balls), who did the hard work of surviving the first session, was out after lunch as he tried a pull shot off Boult just after surviving a tough caught and bowled chance.
Hanuma Vihari (7) was Jamieson’s third victim when he edged a pitched up delivery.
Once Kane Williamson called it right under the overcast conditions, it was a challenge for the Indian batsmen.
Prithvi Shaw (16 off 18 balls), Pujara and skipper Kohli were back in the pavilion with debutant Jamieson keeping up the pressure.
Young Shaw clipped one off Boult and also hit an uppish square cut to get two quick boundaries.