India vs New Zealand: India’s scored 438,pujara out on the sore of 159

NEW DELHI: Jeetan Patel took four wickets as New Zealand bowled out India for 438 runs in their first innings on the second day of the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.

Scorecard

India lost their last wicket when Umesh Yadav was run out for 4.

Cheteshwar Pujara top scored for India with amagnificent 159.

Patel took his fourth wicket when he had R Ashwin stumped by wicket-keeper Kruger van Wyk.

Ashwin hit 5 fours in his 54-ball 37 before falling to Patel.

Patel collected his third wicket when he dismissed Indian skipper MS Dhoni.

Patel tossed up the ball outside off stump, inviting a big shot. Dhoni, looking to slam it over the mid-off, ended up hitting it flat to Doug Bracewell at mid-off.

Dhoni was batting at 73 and his dismissal placed India at 412/7.

Earlier, Patel gave New Zealand the much-needed breakthrough when he had Cheteshwar Pujara caught by James Franlkin at mid-on just after lunch.

Patel drew Pujara out of the crease with a flighted delivery and Pujara tried to hit the ball over long-on, mistimed the shot and Franklin took an easy catch at mid-on.

New Zealand spinner Jeetan Patel was not able to take advantage of the bounce that the wicket offered. To make matters worse, the Kiwis lacked the sharpness in catching too.

Pujara’s unfussy style and concentration are ample proof that the core values of Test batsmanship can still exist. The 24-year-old Rajkot lad, who was making his comeback into the Indian team after a year, looked the most comfortable of the batsmen on display.

The only time he looked in trouble was when he survived a close run-out chance on 60 and at the same score Daniel Flynn muffed up a not-so-easy chance at short-leg off Jeetan Patel. Near the end of the day’s play, he was fortunate to escape a caught behind appeal which was turned down by umpire Ian Gould.

Though India were off to a flying start, the Kiwis definitely held the upper hand in the first session as they packed off the Indian openers without too much on the board. The visitors began the second session well by seeing off Sachin Tendulkar (19; 62b, 2×4) but thereafter, it was the Pujara-Kohli show that stole the show.

After the tea-break, the Indians were in a different zone as runs flowed in torrents. Playing in his fourth Test, Pujara thrived on the Kiwi attack who bowled to his strength. While his first 50 took 119 balls in a stay of 187 minutes at the wicket, his next 50 came off 50 balls. His maiden Test hundred came off a single to fine-leg.

Kohli (58; 107b, 8×4) looked all set for a big one before he threw his wicket away like his Delhi teammates – Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag . Kohli tried to cut a Chris Martin delivery but ended up edging to Martin Guptill at second slip.

Earlier, Gambhir gave India a rousing start by clipping Martin off his pads to fine leg and with Virender Sehwag going ballistic, hitting four consecutive fours, the hosts looked all set for a big score.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com