Shreyas Iyer & tail keep India in game as Rahane, Pujara fail

• Shubham
• 28 November, 2021

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By: Shubham Ghosh

DEBUTANT Shreyas Iyer and wicket-keeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha showed grit and determination with the bat to help India fight back in the first Test against New Zealand in the second session of the fourth day of the first Test at Green Park, Kanpur, on Sunday (28).

The hosts were reduced to 51 for 5 after Axar Patel’s five-for helped them gain a crucial 49-run lead over the visitors in the first innings. Iyer (65), who hit his maiden Test hundred on debut, then held the innings together with the help of Ravichandran Ashwin (32) and Saha (35 not out at the time of writing this report) as they added 116 runs for the sixth and seventh wickets before Iyer fell to pacer Tim Southee, who picked five wickets in the first innings and was doing well in the second as well. India went to the tea break at 167 for 7, taking their lead over New Zealand to 216. At the time of writing this report, India were 189 for 7, leading by 238 runs with Saha and Patel (nine not out) at the crease.

ALSO READ: Shreyas Iyer hits maiden Test hundred in debut game

Rahane, Pujara’s poor forms continue

India stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and his temporary deputy Cheteshwar Pujara continued to struggle with the bat in the match, managing only 39 and 48 runs in the match, respectively.

Axar Patel’s five-for gives India crucial lead over Kiwis

Kyle Jamieson targeted Pujara’s ribcage in the second innings, getting one to rear up on his dead track and the ball kissed the India No.3’s gloves to land into the gloves of Kiwi wicket-keeper Tom Blundell.

Rahane also struggled and the Kiwis focused on cutting down on the singles to create more pressure on him and he struggled to score for 13 balls. He then hit a superb cover drive off spinner Ajaz Patel but the India-born bowler produced his best ball of the match against Rahane. He fired in an arm ball with an angle that caught Rahane plumb in front of the wickets as he tried to play a forward defensive prod.

India scored 345 in their first innings while New Zealand made 296 despite their openers scoring 151 for the first wicket.