The ongoing second Test between India and New Zealand in Kolkata has witnessed a solid performance from the home side. Virat Kohli's team are in the driver's seat as New Zealand, who started Day 3 on 128/7, have been dismissed by the India bowlers for 204 runs. India openers did not lose their wicket in the five overs they had to bat before lunch.
When New Zealand resumed Day 3 play, one thought that the India bowlers would send the visitors packing quickly, but the Black Caps showed plenty of determination to counter the bowlers. Jeetan Patel and BJ Watling were at the batting crease, and they looked good.
In fact, it was Patel, who looked extremely confident facing the seamers as well as the pacers, striking them for boundaries. His aggressive batting display was on show, but Ravichandran Ashwin took that all-important wicket of Patel, who was out for an entertaining 47 runs from 46 balls.
Few overs later, Watling, who had showed some great character in the first hour of play, lost his wicket to Mohammed Shami. The pacer once again got his reverse swing going to trap the batsmen LBW for 25 runs.
The last two batsmen – Trent Boult and Neil Wagner- swung their willow in search of important runs, and took their team total beyond 200 runs. But, their approach did not last long as Wagner was dismissed by Shami, who finished with three wickets. However, it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was the hero of the first innings, picking up five wickets on the second day to help India take a good lead.
With New Zealand batsmen being bowled out before lunch, India openers -- Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan – were tested by the New Zealand bowlers for five overs. The pair did well to go into the first break without losing a wicket. Vijay and Shikhar will be keen to provide a solid start, and score some big runs on Day 3 to strengthen India's lead.
