New Zealand Take The Honors On Day 2, Score 129/0 After Bowling India Out For 345

Cricket Image for New Zealand Take The Honors On Day 2, Score 129/0 After Bowling India Out For 345 (Image Source: Twitter)

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Will Young dug deep in the crease and survived two sessions, scoring 129/0 after bowling India out for 345 on day 2 of the first test match here in Green Park Stadium, Kanpur. 

Resuming the day at a strong position of 258/4, Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer took stance to face the new ball. Tim Southee struck early as he removed Jadeja, who couldn't add to his overnight score of 50. 

Iyer looked confident and smashed five boundaries in the morning before becoming the 16th Indian batter to score a Test ton on debut. 

Wriddhiman Saha couldn't support him well and got out scoring just one run. Four overs later, Iyer, too, gave in to Southee's trap and tried to hit a cover drive only to get caught on the covers. 

Southee got Axar Patel out in his next over to pick his 13th fifer of test cricket and became the first visiting fast bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Kanpur since 1980. 

In the 2nd session, Umesh Yadav smashed Kyle Jamieson for a six to clear his intentions while at the crease, however, Ajaz Patel finally got his line and length right to remove R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma and wrap up the Indian innings. 

Kiwi openers Tom Latham and Will Young began well to counter the new ball. Ishant Sharma almost got Latham out but the decision was reversed after finding an inside edge. A similar thing happened later when Ravindra Jadeja too got him out only to get the decision reversed. He rode his luck in the third session as well where he survived a caught behind against Ashwin. 

Umpiring Has Been Very Disappointing In This Test So Far!
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.#Cricket #indiancricket #teamindia #INDvNZ #NewZealand #Tomlatham pic.twitter.com/o8UM20R1ns

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) November 26, 2021

Latham and Young displayed strong defensive skills to play against R Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar. Young hit 12 fours for his 75* while Latham scored 50* with the help of four fours. 

Indians will be hoping to get a bit more assist from the pitch and make the Kiwi batters uncomfortable, which haven't so far. 

Brief Scorecard: 

India - 345/10 in 111.1 overs (Shreyas Iyer - 105, Tim Southee - 5/69)
New Zealand - 129/0 in 57 overs (Will Young - 75, Tom Latham - 50)