1st Test, Day 2: India vs New Zealand - As it happened...

Auckland: Live updates from Day 2 of the 1st Test between India and New Zealand being played at Eden Park, Auckland.

============================================================== Zee Media Bureau/Jayanta Oinam

SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» |MATCH REPORT» ============================================================== Second day of the first Test also belonged to the home side, as first their skipper Brendon McCullum went on to score a double ton to take their team's score past 500 in the first innings. And when the Kiwi bowlers came to bowl, they kept India reeling at ten for three at one stage. And as the day's play called off a bit early due to bad light, India were struggling at 130 for four. For India Rohit and Rahane are at the crease. ============================================================== India 1st innings The play has been called off due to bad light. ============================================================== Over 39 || Score 130/4 A bit of relief for India as in the last ten overs they haven't lost a wicket as both the batsmen – Rohit and Ajinkya – are playing sensibly. Now along with Rohit, Rahane is also settling down. Rohit is playing on 67, whereas Rahane is on 23. Meanwhile, due to bad light, the match has been stopped. ============================================================== Over 32 || Score 107/4 In the 32nd over Rohit Sharma took a single off Southee to complete his fifty. It's certainly a gutsy half-century by the talented lad. He used 74 delivers to reach the mark, studded with seven handsome boundaries. India require a big knock form the Mumbai batsman. Ajinkya Rahane is playing along with him as India lost their top order batsmen in quick successions. Meanwhile, India also crossed the mark of 100 runs in 31st over. ============================================================== Over 22 || Score 71/4 Murali Vijay Out. It's so far the best delivery of the day. Vijay looked clueless, as his bail flew in the air. What a delivery by Wanger. Murali Vijay got the start but once again failed to capitalise on it to score a big knock. He scored 26 runs in 60 balls before getting out. India is in deep trouble. Ajinkya Rahane is the new man in after the fall of fourth Indian wicket. M Vijay b Wagner 26 (60b) ============================================================== Over 18 || Score 45/3 After losing three quick wickets, Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma are playing sensible cricket. They are shouldering the balls pitching outside off, but at the same time leaving no opportunity to score on loose deliveries. At the moment Rohit is batting on 16, whereas opener Vijay is on 22. ============================================================== Over 10 || Score 16/3 With three order batsmen already wasted for nothing, Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma should learn from the Kiwis, how their opponents have regrouped and counter-attacked the bowlers. If either of these two has to press their claim as truly world-class batsman, then this is the perfect setting. ============================================================== Over 6 || Score 10/3 That's a bouncer. And Virat Kohli's innings is over. India's misery compounded further. Now it's the turn of New Zealand bowlers to hog some limelight after their batsmen have berated the Indians. Southee produced a perfect bouncer, rising awkwardly, forcing Kohli to play, rather defend. Peter Fulton, at second slip completed the formality. There was some doubt though, wondered had the ball touched Kohli's glove before it flew off the helmet. Virat Kohli c Peter Fulton b Tim Southee 4 (13b) ============================================================== Over 1 || Score 3/2 Wandering or wondering? Second ball duck for Shikhar Dhawan. Shocker of a start for the Indians, replying to New Zealand's mammoth 503. Anyway, the Indian opener didn't expect a straight delivery so early in the innings. Was forced to play the shot, targeting midwicket, but the short ball did the damaged... producing an edge over the gully. There, Kane Williamson completed the catch, a good one. Shikhar Dhawan c Kane Williamson b Trent Boult 0 (3b) This is surreal, to say the least. Cheteshwar Pujara too gone. The Wall in the Making chased the ball, only to find the gathering Kiwis celebrate in union. Cheteshwar Pujara c Bradley Watling b Trent Boult 1 (3b) First over, India two down. ============================================================== New Zealand 1st innings Over 121.4|| Score 503 That's some way to wrap up the innings! Ravindra Jadeja plucked one from thin air at long-on boundary. After a quick juggling act, the Indian finishes the catch, inside the boundary - for the catch to be considered legitimate. Ishant Sharma in action again, got another one, this time the prize wicket of Brendon McCullum. The Kiwi skipper failed short of one run to equal his personal best, 225 again against India, made at Hyderabad during New Zealand's India tour of 2010. Brendon McCullum c Ravindra Jadeja b Ishant Sharma 224 (307b) ============================================================== Over 120 || Score 501/9 Post lunch, spurred Ishant Sharma's five wicket haul, suddenly, Indians have found energy and purpose in this game. In a space of nine balls, Indian removed two Kiwi tail-enders – one for Ishant, who got rid of extremely confident Sodhi, and Ravindra Jadeja's first wicket of the match, as he befuddled Neil Wagner to play a straight delivery. Ish Sodhi c Rohit Sharma b Ishant Sharma 23 (27b) Neil Wagner c Virat Kohli b Ravindra Jadeja 0 (7b) But the Kiwi skipper is unmovable, still carrying on. ============================================================== Lunch Break Over 114 || Score 473/7 New Zealand continued from where they left yesterday. With Brendon McCullum – in his imperious touch and holding the innings together, the Kiwis have scored a big total of 473 runs. The skipper reached his double century in the last ball of the session, and was the chief architect of the innings which is nearing 500. In the 24 overs played in the second session, the hosts have scored a Test match unlikely 144 runs, which is exactly six runs an over. For the Indians, Ishant Sharma got two more wickets, and could well finish with a five-for in this innings. ============================================================== Over 110 || Score 442/7 Mohammed Shami joined Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan among the wicket-takers. He removed a dangerous looking Tim Southee, clean-bowled, allowing Indian-born Ish Sodhi to join Brendon in the centre. Brendon is still a cool and composed self. With 187 personal score, the Kiwi skipper must be having a large scheme on the proceedings. A win? Southee's short innings included two sixes and three fours. Sure enough, it indicates Kiwi's plan. Tim Southee b Mohammed Shami 28 (21b) ============================================================== Over 105 || Score 407/6 Despite losing two quick wickets, New Zealand are still in command as they have crossed 400-run mark. The boundary is small here but to reply a first innings score of over 400 runs for any team, in any condition will be difficult. Considering India's woes in the recent past, it will be huge task to play catch-up with this Kiwi side, which have thrashed them 4-0 in the recent ODIs. After 14 overs, Dhoni made the first bowling change today. In Mohammed Shami, for Zaheer Khan. ============================================================== Over 103.1 || Score 398/6 Wicket Ishant Sharma has got another one, his fourth of the innings. As the Kiwis started to push for quick runs, India benefited with a wicket. New Zealand wiket-keeper, trying to launch a wide half-volley from Ishant, ended with a thick-edge. At third slip, Shikhar took the catch. Bradley Watling c Shikhar Dhawan b Ishant Sharma 1 (6b ) ============================================================== Over 100 || Score 384/5 If it was Williamson belting out some leather-hunting tunes to the dismay of Indian supporters yesterday, today it is the turn of another young turk – Corey Anderson. It seems, the 23-year-old all-rounder is in hurry to compile his hundred. Yes, conducting this concerto is McCullum. Indians did finally opt to take a new ball in the 98th over. And with the new ball, the scoring rate has also been increased. Wicket And this new ball has done the trick. Ishant Sharma has got the better of Corey, adjudged Leg Before Wicket. Indians are probably thanking Steve Davies, the umpire. There is no review, involving India. Corey Anderson lbw b Ishant Sharma 77 (109b) Before his departure, Mr. Anderson has solidified the Kiwi innings with a fruitful partnership of 133 runs with his skipper. ============================================================== Over 95 || Score 358/3 Zaheer Khan started the day's proceedings with overnight batsman, Corey Anderson giving company to his skipper. Brendon McCullum completed his 150 with a boundary off Zaheer Khan in the third over of Day 2. In the next over, Corey Anderson reached his fifty, thanks to two boundaries off Ishant's over. In today's first five overs, New Zealand have added another 29 runs with both the batsmen achieving sort of individual landmarks. While Indian skipper, a circumspect Dhoni, continued to pursue with the two most experienced bowlers in his squad – Zaheer and Ishant, but without much success, his Kiwi counterpart - Brendon McCullum is busy compiling easy runs. What a day to start for the Kiwis. ============================================================== Auckland: The match is only a day old but India have already found themselves chasing game. After a bright start, under an overcast condition, MS Dhoni's men failed to consolidate. At the end of the first day's play, New Zealand were sitting pretty with 329 runs on the board at the expense of four wickets. The brilliant 221-run partnership between Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum was the highlight on the first day. Kiwis, at one stage, were tottering at 30 for 3, but that 51-over period have effectively changed the course of the day. What and how they will continue on Day 2 and on other remaining days can be measured from the way these two centurions have batted throughout the innings – piling misery on a lacklustre Indian attack. McCullum will resume his innings from 143, and Dhoni would want his boys to get his wicket as early as possible. So, the onus now will be on the Indians to save the match, and if at all, seek the glory by pushing for a win. But as of now, there seems to be no such avenue for the visiting team. It might sound ludicrous to predict a result following a single day's proceedings, but the truth is – what has transpired on the opening day, in all probability, will decide the course of the match. So, again. The question is – Can Indians fight?