Ajinkya Rahane battles on as India crawl to 122 for 5 at tea in first New Zealand test

In a poor showing, Ajinkya Rahane's unbeaten 38 was the saving grace from the other top-order batsmen as India struggled to reach 122 for 5 at tea on the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand here on Friday. Tall seamer Kyle Jamieson had a dream debut picking up 3/38 in 14 overs as it was generally a struggle for the batsmen on a juicy first-day track at the Basin Reserve.

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Kiwi pacers make things difficult for Indian batsmen

Such was the disciplined effort from the Black Caps bowlers that India managed only 43 runs in the second session as Rahane played 122 balls, hitting four boundaries on a heavy outfield. Rishabh Pant was at the other end on 10 not out. Mayank Agarwal (34 off 84 balls), who did the hard work of surviving the first session, was out after lunch as he tried a pull shot off Trent Boult just after surviving a tough caught and bowled chance. Hanuma Vihari (7) was Jamieson's third victim as he edged a pitched up delivery to induce a nick.

Once Kane Williamson called the toss of coin right under overcast conditions, it was a challenge for the Indian batsmen. Prithvi Shaw (16 off 18 balls), Cheteshwar Pujara (11 off 42 balls) and skipper Virat Kohli (2 off 7 balls) were back in the pavilion with debutant Jamieson keeping up the pressure after Tim Southee (1/27 in 14 overs) and Boult (1/44 in 14 overs) bowled a probing first spell. Young Shaw clipped one off Boult and also hit an uppish square cut to get two quick boundaries. But his loose technique and propensity to close his bat face was always going to cost him dearly.

Southee bowled one that looked like angling in and Shaw closed the bat face as the ball moved a shade away after pitching, brushing his pad and then the off-stump. The batsman had a dazed look knowing that his technique was thoroughly exposed on a seamer-friendly track. Pujara was ready to show a lot of patience as he started leaving deliveries outside the off-stump. However, Jamieson, coming in as the second change, bowled his back of length delivery on the off-middle channel. Pujara had no option but to jab at the rising delivery which kissed the outside edge of his bat and was taken by wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

A lot of hope were pinned on skipper Kohli but a smart ploy by Jamieson brought about the downfall of the Indian captain. Kohli was playing Jamieson for the disconcerting bounce that he generated from back of the length but in between, he decided to slip one fuller delivery on the fourth stump channel. Kohli lunged into the drive and the thickish edge was taken by the '100th Test man' Ross Taylor, standing at the first slip, to compound India's troubles. 

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(Image Credits: @ICC)