Venue : Basin Reserve, Wellington
Toss : New Zealand won the toss and opt to bowl
Squad
New Zealand
Playing XI : Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult.
Bench : Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry
India
Playing XI : Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
Bench : Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Shubman Gill
Stats on Test Series between India & New Zealand
Head to Head so far
Played : 57 India won : 21 New Zealand won : 10 Drawn : 26
India vs New Zealand in New Zealand
Played : 23 Ind Won : 5 NZ Won: 8 Drawn : 10
India vs New Zealand in Wellington
Played : 7 Ind Won : 1 NZ Won: 4 Drawn : 2
Mayank Agarwal’s record
As everyone expected Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal set in to bat while Southee opens the bowling attack. Agarwal script a history as first Indian opener to survive the opening session in a New Zealand test in the last 30 years. Shaw makes run in every possible delivery but Southee’s ball put an end to his erratic start. India lose its opener in an very early stage. Shaw return to pavilion when he scored 16 runs of 18 balls. Cheteshwar Pujara takes the strike after the Shaw’s wicket. There comes the 6 ft 6in New Zealand debut(test) bowler in attack and made his first over as maiden.
India struggled to make runs
In his third over he made his test debut maiden wicket by uprooting Pujara for 11 runs. Jamieson welcomed the India skipper Virat Kohli with a short ball, and alternated between unfurling those and going full against him. Jamieson smartly went off-script and released a good length ball, outside the offstump, but Kohli took the bait and chased after it in search of one of those signature cover drives. Once again the extra bit of bounce meant Kohli ended up edging it, and Ross Taylor held onto it well at first slip.
One of those typical Virat Kohli’s UNWANTED way of getting OUT. #NZvIND #NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/uwKCtX2Hm7
— Daddy Hundred 🏏 (@daddyhundred) February 21, 2020
Jamieson’s impressive debut
Jamieson picked the India’s most crucial wickets of Kohli and Pujara which lags India from scoring. As the top order failed to execute, the pressure builds over middle order players as India lose its three wicket for just 40 runs. Ajinkya Rahane and Mayank Agarwal join hands and prevent India from collapsing, and execute a steady game. These two survived until lunch break and push India towards 79 runs in total for three wicket lose.
End of Session : 1
India : 79 for 3 wickets(Agarwal 29* and Rahane 19*)
New Zealand stand strong in session 1 as debut player shows up by picking two main wickets of India.
Session 2
Kiwi’s giraffe crashed India’s all hope
Soon after the lunch this duo’s partnership comes to an end when Boult took Agarwal’s wicket. Mayank Agarwal get dismissal when he top-edged a leg side short ball from Trent Boult and leaves the catch to Jamieson’s hand at fine leg.
There’s still some hope left for India as Hanuma Vihari joined forces with Rahane. Vihari who execute his glorious performance in practice match is expected to prevent India from sinking. But Jamieson seems having a bit to execute after the drinks break where India likely to gain control over the match. This time its Vihari who lose his wicket to Kiwi’s giraffe and return pavilion. The first test turns as a dream debut match for Jamieson where he execute his phenomenal performance by picking three main wickets of India. India lose five wickets while crossing 100 runs in total.
Unexpected guest – Rain
Rishabh Pant gets in ground with a huge expectation by Indian team as he was chosen ahead of Saha owning to his superior overseas batting skills. This pair moves India towards 155 runs for 55 overs when its time for tea break. Windy Wellington seems to have blown away India’s top-order and that of course didn’t take long either. 3 wickets in the first session and 2 more in the second. The rain interrupted the match and the match has been called off. At the end of day one India scored 122 runs for 5 wickets. Ajinkya Rahane scored 38 off 122 balls and Rishabh Pant scores 10 off 37 balls and remains unbeaten.
Day 1- Stumps
India : 122 for 5(Rahane 38* and Pant 10*)
India still struggle to face New Zealand bowlers and fail to make good score. Hope for day 2 to have some better performance from Indian batting.
Day-2
Session-1
It’s Day 2, and as is the norm, Day 1 of a Test in New Zealand was worth waking up for. Some rather slow movement off a green deck, which Pujara won’t agree with, but movement nonetheless, that has accounted for half of the Indian batting line-up for just over a hundred runs on the board. Blue skies at the moment with a bit of sun peeking out too, which is a good sign. Spin to start proceedings on day two.
India surrended to Southee’s bowling
Pant and Rahane return to ground and need to move the India towards a better score. Pant doesn’t take long to give a charge as he strike a six in the first over of thye day 2. Pant lose his wicket in an unnecessary run out and Rahane needs to take the blame here. A run out is always the worst mode of dismissal in Test cricket and when it is through a bad mix up as this one, makes things all the more worst. The smiling assassin Tim Southee took Ashwin who is in for Jadeja return to pavilion for duck. Ishant Sharma(right handed) stop Southee from having a hat-trick wicket.
Rahane still fights single handedly to add some runs in total to make a descent score for India. Southee soon clears his wicket when he scored 46 runs now the Body blown for India as Rahane falls. Shami gets to he ground and manage to score 21 runs from 20 balls and lose his wicket to Southee. India fold up for 165, Tim Southee’s return really helped Kiwis as he picked 4 wickets in the 1st innings of India.
Steady start from New Zealand
Latham and Tom Blundell are at the crease, Latham is on strike. Bumrah opens the attack. Ishant Sharma who returned from injury delivered his first over and mark it as maiden over. Bumrah then made his second over as maiden and start the innings in a spectacular way. Latham and Tom Blundell execute their steady game in order not to lose the wickets which is precious in test matches. Kiwis scored 17 runs without losing any wicket and left to lunch.
Session 2
Indian fast bowlers keep Kiwis in control
After the lunch Ishant and Shami starts to bowl at 130+ km/h. New Zealand’s symbol of stoicism will get disappointed after Ishant uproot the wicket of Latham. It’s good come back with form after recovering from injury. There comes the Kane Williamson(right handed) comes to the crease and joins hands with Blundell.
Stat:
New Zealand hasn’t had a 50+ opening partnership against India at home since 1994 – 18 innings and four series without one. The last opening pair with a 50+ stand was Bryan Young & Blair Hartland in Hamilton in March 1994, which was Kapil Dev’s last Test appearance.
Kiwis played without pressure
Indian fast bowlers kept Kiwi batsman under control and defend from scoring in high. Kiwis scored 63 runs for one wicket lose and its time for drinks break. New Zealand lost Latham early on in this session, but since then, there have been no wickets.
There have been a few alarms, in the form of leading edges. India have bowled well. They’ve tried hard. But lady luck has deserted them, and New Zealand are just over a hundred runs short of India’s first-innings total. With a hand full of wickets New Zealand played without any pressure.
Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell have looked solid after Tom Latham’s dismissal. The 🇳🇿 captain has already hit three fours.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/MHBgJIi791
— ICC (@ICC) February 22, 2020
Ishant’s comeback performance
Again its Ishant Sharma who cleaned up Tom Blundell’s wicket just the tonic India needed. Huge reception for Taylor who walks out to bat in his 100th Test (176th innings), Standing ovation and rightly so. Taylor and Latham partnered and start batting in steady to pump the New Zealand score. These two well experienced batsman didn’t rush to score instead provide a steady run growth.
Tea break
New Zealand continue to strengthen their position in the game. Runs came at a fair clip in the post-lunch session and although Blundell fell to a peach from Ishant, Taylor counterattacked in his skipper’s presence as NZ’s most experienced pair prevented further alarms.
Taylor dismissed by Ishant
After the tea break Taylor continue to strike as like in pre-tea break session. With a cracking shot down to the boundary Williamson scored a half-century in Ashwin’s delivery. Indian skipper Virat Kohli made numerous changes in bowling style to break the partner ship. Finally its done by Ishant Sharma by clearing Taylor and stops him from scoring half-century.
NZ players in their 100th Test appearance
S Fleming 0 & 4 v SA, Centurion 2006
D Vettori 41 v Ind, Ahmedabad 2010
B McCullum 0 & 10 v Aus, Wellington 2016
Shami scatters Kane’s dream of ton
On the other hand its Williamson who advance towards scoring a ton in the test match by joining hands with Henry Nicholls who gets in after Taylors wicket. Hendry rotates the strike to Williamson who is in field for long time. Shami scatters the Williamsons’s dream towards ton as Jadeja(sub) at cover took the catch who get seldom misses out on anything that’s within a radius of 5 feet.
Day-2 stumps
Its a great relief for India as Williamsons went down. BJ Watling gets in crease and joins hand with Henry Nicholls where Nicholls expose a steady game. But soon lose his wicket to Ashwin’s spin spell and return to pavilion by scoring 17 runs. At the end of day-2 New Zealand scored 207 runs for five wicket loss and 51 runs ahead of India.
Day-3
India starts the 3rd day with a bang as Bumrah uproot Watling’s wicket when he scored 14 runs. Soon Ishant packs Southee’s wicket for 6 runs. After Kiwi loses seven wickets everyone expect it would be easy to foldup them. But Kyle Jamieson joins hand with de Grandhomme and start performing with an impressive play.
Kiwis start to strike aggressively in every possible direction. This partnership has already started to be significant in the context of this game. Once the lead goes past three figures, it could start to have an psychological effect. Pressur builds when Jamieson was dropped by Shami. Shami probably could have done better on his followthrough, stretched out his right hand but a dive was what he needed perhaps. This stuck on the pitch from a shorter length, Jamieson tried to defend and ended up spooning it straight back to the bowler.
Drinks break
Ashwin’s revenge
After the drinks break Jamieson starts to hurt India, banged in short and at the stumps, Jamieson was rushed onto the pull, gets a fat top-edge that sailed over the keeper’s head, went all the way for a maximum. Indian skipper Kohli changed the bowling statics in order top get a break through and introduced Ashwin. Inspite Jamieson hit a couple of massive six in Ashwin’s delivery and prove himself. Ashwin got his revenge by uprooting Jamieson when he change the angle of ball. Jamieson’s impressive performance comes to an end when he scored 44 runs of 45 deliveries.
Ajaz Patel(left handed) comes in and joins hand with de Grandhomme and helps New Zealand to cross 300 runs. Ashwin uproot de Grandhomme’s wicket, third wicket for him a well deserved one. de Grandhomme scored 43 runs from 74 balls an impressive game play comes to an end.
Boult’s final blow
There comes Trent Boult(right handed) comes to crease and strike most of the balls towards boundary and six. Finally Boult’s massive play comes to an end when Ishant uproot his wicket for 38 runs. A good finish from New Zealand player and leads Kiwis to score 348 runs. The inni9ngs end with the lunch time.
India winning a Test after conceding 100+ 1st innings lead:
131 vs WI Port of Spain 1976
182 vs Aus MCG 1980/81
274 vs Aus Kolkata 2000/01
Stat
Only once India conceded a higher 1st innings lead under Kohli – 289 vs Eng at Lord’s in 2018. That Test remains the only instance of India losing after batting first under Kohli.
Only once a team lost after taking 150+ first innings lead in a Test played in NZ – NZ (366 & 103) lost to Pak (196 & 277/3) by seven wickets in 2003.
Session-2
Boult picks two major wickets
After lunch Prithvi Shaw and Agarwal comes to the crease. Prithvi Shaw is on strike, Southee opens the bowling attack. Indian openers start to play steady as they in need of a good partnership. Shaw and Agarwal took their time and strikes in controlled manner. Everything went off when Boult start to show off with bowling performance and uproot Shaw.
India lose its first wicket for 27 runs and Cheteshwar Pujara comes in to join hands with Agarwal.
Agarwal and Pujara manage to face the Kiwi bowlers till drinks break without loosing their wickets.With a boundary in Ajaz Patel’s over Agarwal reaches 50 runs where India scored 72 runs for a wicket loss. After facing 81 balls Pujara scored only 11 runs and bowled out by Boult.
Tea break
Agarwal’s show comes to an end
After tea, Indian skipper Virat Kohli entered and start his innings with a boundary in Southee over. Everyone expect Kohli would dig up India from the lose. A body blow for India, the in-form batsman has been sent packing as Southee uproot his wicket when he scored 58 runs.
Kohli down
Rahane comes in and joins hand with Kohli everyone expect this duo would drag India from losing. With a boundary from Kohli India reached 100 runs but the hope was scattered by Boult. As he uproot Kohli’s wicket while India scored 113 runs. Kohli returned pavilion with a great disappointment and India looks helpless as it lose their run machine.
Rahane and Hanuma Vihari joins hand where India need a great partnership. This duo seems to move India further as they partnered and strikes in an control manner. And at the end of day 3 India scored 144 runs where Vihari and Rahane stand unbeaten.
Day-4
India moves to dangerous position as they keep losing wickets
Boult starts his attack towards Indian players and soon picked Rahane’s wicket when he scored 29 runs. Team India is in dangerous positiion as they lose their five wickets for 148 runs. Southee uproot Vihari’s wicket when he scored 15 runs. India then lose its remaining wickets when they score only in single digits. Finally Southee picks couple of wickets in 80th over where Pant scored 25 runs and Bumrah return without scoring any. Southee picks five wickets in total that makes India to fold up for 191 runs.
India getting dismissed < 200 twice in a Test vs NZ
161 & 121, Wellington 2002/03
99 & 154, Hamilton 2002/03
165 & 191, Wellington 2019/20
Best match figures for Tim Southee
10/108 v Eng, Lord’s 2013
9/110 v Ind, Wellington 2019/20
9/162 v Aus, Perth 2019/20
Kiwis 100th test win
With a single digit target to chase down New Zealand win the match easily and record its 100th win in test match.
Matches to 100 Test wins
199 Australia (1951)
241 England (1939)
266 West Indies (1988)
310 South Africa (2006)
320 Pakistan (2006)
432 India (2009)
441 New Zealand (2020)
Ten wicket wins for NZ vs India
Christchurch 1989/90
Wellington 2002/03
Wellington 2019/20
India’s Test defeats after batting 1st under Virat Kohli
innings & 159 runs vs Eng Lord’s 2018
10 wickets vs NZ Wellington 2019/20 *
Man of the Match
Tim Southee(New Zealand) : A great win. To beat a quality Indian side, the way we have is very pleasing. The effort throughout from everyone was outstanding. I think this morning was a massive moment in the game. Being able to pick up those two wickets before the second new ball was crucial. The more you play, you get back into the rhythm. If you want to play three formats, you got to chop and change. As a bowling unit, to take 20 wickets and an effort like this was pretty pleasing. The wicket had more in it than usual. With the wind there, the ball did a bit more.
Tim Southee is the @ANZ_NZ Player of the Match at the @BasinReserve. 9 wickets in the Test including his 10th 5 wicket haul. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/sI0BoPfBlW
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 24, 2020
Captain’s view
Virat Kohli: Day 1, the toss did turn out to be very important. But at the same time, we take a lot of pride in being competitive as a batting unit and we were just not competitive enough. I don’t think we put their bowlers under enough pressure. Anything over 220-230 and we would have been talking a different language. Even the deficit looks lot lesser if you get that score and take those last three wickets cheaply. The first innings really put us behind in the game and the lead put us under pressure. As a bowling group, we have been pretty competitive in bowling good channels for long periods of time. Till about 7 wickets, we were pretty good. The wicket did get better. The last 3 wickets and those 120 runs hurt us and pushed us out of the game. Overall, we did put in a good effort but can still be more disciplined. It doesn’t need to be pointed to them as the bowlers have recognized themselves. That can happen at the international level. You don’t have to be too hard on the guys. Prithvi has played only two games away from home. He is a natural strokemaker and would figure out things to get the runs going. Mayank was outstanding in both the innings. Him and Jinks were the only two batters who got some tempo. We just need to stick our template as a batting unit.
Kane Williamson: It was an outstanding effort over a space of 4 days. We know how strong this India team is all over the world. The effort that went into the first innings to get the ball in the right areas for long periods of time did help. With the bat to get what was a very competitive total on a surface which offered something throughout the game was very important. The lower order runs are very important to get some sort of a handy lead. It was brilliant, the wicket. We didn’t know what to expect looking at it the day before. The grass cover did brown off. The bowling attack was brilliant. We were able to get some swing thanks to the ground being windy. Kyle Jamieson has been brilliant throughout the summer with the white ball as well. He contributed in a number of ways. A great debut for him. Great experience for him to bowl with a somewhat settled group. Southee came in and wanted to operate as best as he could. The left arm and right arm combination has done it for us and they showed it again especially with the old ball. The passion and the energy they showed was brilliant. Tom Blundell is alright and was just a precautionary thing. He says his pain is 2 out of 10.
