The Test series of India against NZ kicked off today with first Test currently ongoing at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
In the 500th Test, India opting to bast first, started well with Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay opening the Indian innings quite strongly and making a 42-run stand.
The visitors, playing with three spinner and two bowlers, got no success in the initial stage of the game before Kane Williamson turned to Mitchell Santner, who provided first breakthrough to NZ and took the wicket on Lokesh Rahul (32 off 39).
Later, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay put a great batting effort and 112-run stand before Pujara handing over his wicket to Santner again. After the Pujara’s wicket no body could contribute well despite R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma’s small partnership and Indian collapsed after the strong start.
Rohit Sharma (35 off 67) and R Ashwin (40 off 76) tried to support India batting in the middle order but the failure of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha has put India backward on stumps of first day of the first match of the series.
At the stumps, India were 291 for the loss of 9 wickets with Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav still in the middle.
From New Zealand, pacer Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner took 3 wickets each and Sodhi, Wagner and Craig took 1 wicket each on the first day.
By Prajakt K
