Rahane and Pujara put on 141 for fourth wicket, but Kiwis display sharp claws on Day One
India’s Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara during the first day’s play of the second Test against New Zealand at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. PIC/AFP
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Kolkata: Ajinkya Rahane tends to score big in the second Test of most series. He came good to an extent, hit one in the air which substitute fielder Doug Bracewell couldn’t get hold of but perished through the guile of off-spinner Jeetan Patel who had the Mumbai mainstay leg before for 77.
On the last tour of the West Indies, Rahane scored a hundred in the second Test at Kingston, Jamaica where India batted just once. Same was the case against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval, Sri Lanka’s first Test ground where India beat the hosts by 278 runs. Also, at Lord’s in the English summer of 2014.
There was a hundred for the taking yesterday too on Day One of the second Test against New Zealand, but the day ended in disappointment for India – 239 for seven. The man himself was frank. “It was not a good day for us. We had a few soft dismissals, but the partnership between me and Pujara was crucial. Pujara and me will take the blame as we both were set. It was our responsibility to carry the partnership forward. A batsman just needs one ball to get out, but if we could have scored a century each, our position would have been different. I am not blaming anyone. Maybe, it was our responsibility,” Rahane told the media at the end of the day.
Tough conditions
The humid conditions were a surprise to the hosts as well and Rahane thanked the fans who watched Day One of India’s 250th Test at home. “It was very tough and credit should be given to the ones who turned up. If there’s shade and good facilities available, people will turn up. It will be good for cricket,” he said, something which the Cricket Association of Bengal authorities should take note of.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who came into this Test match with talk surrounding his strike rate, was determined to go the distance and sent his critics running for cover with every shot that beat the enthusiastic New Zealanders.
Wagner strikes
Driving on the up, Pujara found Martin Guptill at short cover and South Africa-born pacer Neil Wagner, who had watched in distress as Rahane and Pujara put on 141 for the fourth wicket, heaved a sigh of relief. Both right handed batsmen had done a splendid job to pull India out of the 3-46 ruins. Rohit Sharma disappointed yet again – after his knock in the first innings at Kanpur. However, he received a beauty from Patel which turned and bounced before Latham at short leg dived to get hold of the Mumbai man’s inside edge. Eden Gardens is Rohit’s favourite ground and he’s got some work to do in the second innings. New Zealand know what unbeaten batsmen Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha are capable of, but stand-in skipper Ross Taylor and ill regular skipper Kane Williamson would be happy with the way things panned out on a difficult day at Eden.
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