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The first Test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a complete domination by the visitors, with New Zealand securing a significant lead after the second day's play. The match began with India winning the toss and opting to bat first, but the decision backfired as New Zealand's bowlers exploited the favorable conditions and a damp pitch to skittle out the Indian batting lineup for a mere 46 runs, the lowest team score in Asia by any side. This collapse was primarily attributed to the stellar performances of Matt Henry, who finished with figures of 5-15, and William O'Rourke, who claimed 4-22.
The Indian batting order crumbled under the pressure of the New Zealand pace attack. Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, was dismissed early by Tim Southee. O'Rourke then struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan for ducks. The middle order also failed to offer any resistance, with KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin all registering ducks. Rishabh Pant, despite a few moments of luck, was eventually run out. The lower order, known for its resilience in home conditions, was unable to make any impact against the relentless bowling attack. It's worth noting that the conditions were far from 'home' like for the Indian team.
In contrast to the Indian batting performance, New Zealand's opening batsman Devon Conway anchored the innings with a resolute 91 runs. He faced a tough period against Jasprit Bumrah's new ball spell but managed to hang in there and played aggressively against the spinners, particularly Ravichandran Ashwin. While skipper Tom Latham looked compact and played cautiously, he couldn't match Conway's scoring rate. Although batting conditions improved as the sun came out, the New Zealand bowlers continued to extract some help from the pitch. However, India's spinners managed to make a mark as well, with Kuldeep Yadav breaking the opening stand by trapping Latham LBW and Ashwin later dismissing Conway off the first ball of his new spell. Nevertheless, the New Zealand batsmen showed their resilience, with Will Young and Daryl Mitchell building a solid partnership to ensure that New Zealand extended their lead to 134 runs at the end of the second day's play.
New Zealand's impressive bowling performance and Conway's half-century have put them firmly in the driver's seat, and they will be looking to build a substantial lead in the next two sessions of the third day. The weather forecast for the remaining days is uncertain, but there should be enough time for the game to progress. This match has already presented an exciting contest, with New Zealand showcasing their dominance against a struggling Indian batting lineup. The next few days will be crucial in determining the outcome of this first Test match and it promises to be a thrilling finish.
Source: NZ in box seat after Henry, O'Rourke skittle India out for 46