Indian bowlers once again fail to capitalise on a good start

Zee Media Bureau/ Suyash Srivastava

Auckland: When Indian bowlers dismissed New Zealand`s top three batsmen with just 30 runs on the board on day 1 of the first Test match between India and New Zealand, many would have thought it to be a great comeback from Team India. But that wasn`t the case as in-form Kane Williamson stitched a massive 211-run partnership with skipper Brendon McCullum for the fourth-wicket partnership. Both these batsmen went on to score centuries and the efforts put in by the pacers went futile, as the fourth wicket fell when Williamson nicked one to the keeper after scoring another stupendous knock. It was a golden opportunity for the Indian team to strengthen their grip over the first Test, once Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma got them some early breakthroughs. While Ishant got the first wicket for India when he dismissed opener Hamish Rutherford for just six runs, Zaheer picked his first wicket when he trapped Peter Fulton in front of the wicket. Sharma went onto to scalp the big fish – Ross Taylor - in the 18th over of the innings when the right-hander was caught by Ravindra Jadeja. But Indian bowlers had to wait for 51 overs to get their next breakthrough. There was no respite for the bowlers once Williamson was dismissed, as McCullum and Corey Anderson added unbeaten 78 runs for the fifth wicket. The Kiwi skipper played a brilliant knock and was unbeaten on 143 at stumps. MS Dhoni would now be wondering what went wrong on day 1, as the Kiwis had put 329 runs on the board, despite a poor start.