New Zealand's Matt Henry (C) celebrates after dismissing India's Ravichandran Ashwin (L) during the second day of the first Test cricket match between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday. — AFP
New Zealand surged ahead by 134 runs after fast bowlers Matt Henry and William O'Rourke combined to devastating effect, dismissing India for a paltry 46 in the weather-affected first Test on Thursday. Opener Devon Conway scored 91 before being bowled while attempting a reverse sweep off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on a dramatic second day in Bengaluru. New Zealand ended the day at 180-3 with Rachin Ravindra on 22 and Daryl Mitchell on 14 when bad light halted play in an extended session.
India were dismissed in just 31.2 overs in the second session after opting to bat in overcast conditions. The opening day of the Test, the first of a three-match series, was completely washed out. This marked India's third-lowest Test score ever and their lowest on home soil. Their previous lowest home score was 75 against the West Indies in New Delhi in 1987, while their overall lowest score is 36 against Australia in a pink-ball Adelaide Test in 2020.
New Zealand mounted a strong response. Conway added 67 runs for the first wicket with new skipper Tom Latham, who made 15. The left-handed Conway took on the Indian attack and handled the spinners with ease, reaching 50 off 54 balls with a six off Ashwin. Kuldeep Yadav struck next ball to dismiss Latham with his left-arm wrist spin. India successfully reviewed the decision after the umpire initially denied the appeal.
Conway then partnered with Will Young, who scored 33 in place of the injured Kane Williamson. Young fell to Ravindra Jadeja before Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant missed a stumping opportunity and injured his knee, forcing him to leave the field. Dhruv Jurel came in as the substitute wicketkeeper.
Earlier, Pant top-scored with 20 in a disastrous Indian innings that saw five ducks, including that of star batsman Virat Kohli. Henry wrapped up the innings with a five-wicket haul, his last strike of Kuldeep marking his 100th Test wicket. Tim Southee struck the first blow in the seventh over, bowling India skipper Rohit Sharma through the gate with a sharp inswinger after he had made two. O'Rourke struck in his first over to get Kohli caught at leg gully without scoring, silencing the stunned home crowd.
There was a brief rain interruption, but India found no respite when play resumed as the hosts slumped to 33-5, and then 34-6 at lunch. Wickets continued to fall, and soon after lunch, O'Rourke (4-22) and Henry (5-15) dismissed the remaining four batsmen, aided by some excellent catching.
