New Zealand seizes control as Henry (five for 15) and O’Rourke (four for 22) rout the home side for 46, its third-lowest score ever; impressive Conway puts Kiwis on the road to a formidable score
The howlers began even before the first ball of the opening Test was bowled. The sky was overcast. The pitch had been under covers for nearly three days due to rain, including the entirety of day one. And yet, India chose to bat first.
What followed was a disaster of record proportions. Rohit Sharma and co were bowled out for 46 — the lowest innings score by any team in a Test held in Asia. This was also India’s third lowest total ever.
New Zealand, not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, cashed in.
With the afternoon sun now shining bright above the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here, New Zealand coasted to 180 for three on an increasingly batterfriendly surface.
In contrast, India endured a nightmare in the first hour. New ball bowlers Tim Southee and Matt Henry exploited the tailormade conditions to the hilt, moving the ball prodigiously. Rohit and fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had no clue — pushing, prodding, playing and missing.
Nervous stint
Rohit’s nervous stint was ended by Southee, who got one to come in sharply. Out walked Virat Kohli to a huge cheer from the crowd. Kohli, who usually bats at four, was promoted up the order to fill the vacant slot left by an injured Shubman Gill. This despite the presence of K.L. Rahul, a local lad, who is accustomed to facing the new ball as an opener.
The move backfired, as Kohli awkwardly fended at a rising delivery from speedster William O’Rourke. The team management made another questionable decision in sending the inexperienced Sarfaraz Khan in next. Sarfaraz was completely overwhelmed, going hard at Henry to spoon a catch to mid-off.
Only Jaiswal showed stomach for a fight — shouldering arms with confidence, and showing a new
found patience. All the hard work, however, was undone when the southpaw cut a short, wide ball to Ajaz Patel at point.
At this stage, the demons in the pitch were starting to subside. It was time to stick around and fight. Rahul was not on board, glancing a harmless ball from O’Rourke to the wicketkeeper.
Ravindra Jadeja did not get the message either. The all-rounder was early on the flick off the pads, lobbing a catch to point.
Streaky shots
Rishabh Pant, unbothered by the carnage around him, attempted a reverse scoop to Henry early in his essay. A few more streaky shots provided some relief for the shocked spectators, until he departed to leave India at 39 for eight. The end of the Indian innings came soon enough.
New Zealand only had to deploy three fast bowlers to grab all ten wickets. India, which had inexplicably included three spinners and two speedsters in the eleven, could not replicate this proven formula.
Devon Conway dug in and made an important 91. Useful partnerships with Tom Latham (15) and Will Young (33) ensured that New Zealand stayed in the driver’s seat. India’s miserable day was complete when wicketkeeper Pant received a blow to the knee and hobbled off the field. It was the same right knee which required three surgeries to recover from his road accident, raising concerns if he will be fit to take further part in this outing.