Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma shared seven wickets between them as India made a strong comeback to put New Zealand under some pressure on Day 5 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final in Southampton.
The Kiwis ultimately got into the lead, but India’s comeback was quite impressive as they kept any frustrations at bay and stuck to their guns in the first hour of play despite no instant rewards. The wickets followed after the first drinks break as Shami got Ross Taylor out driving a ball that wasn’t full enough in length and soon bowled BJ Watling with one that had the batsman stuck at the crease and playing down the wrong line.
In-between, Ishant added Henry Nicholls to his tally with a proper full-pitched ball that swung away and got the nick through to the slips. Focusing on control and discipline at the start, India gradually pushed their lengths up by a few inches and reaped the rewards. Skipper Virat Kohli maintained tight fields and did not show any desperation for wickets.
India conceded only 34 runs in the 23 overs of play that took place before the lunch break and got three wickets. The momentum found in that passage was maintained after the lunch as Shami and Ishant retained their composure and kept at it. While Shami dismissed the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson, Ishant got the wicket of Kane Williamson.
Williamson’s effort here is worth noting down as his knock of 49 off 177 deliveries was one full of grit and defiance in challenging circumstances. The NZ skipper looked in some pain due to a longstanding elbow niggle but never once lost his will to continue. He ensured his team makes it past the Indians’ 217 and reach a score of 249 in their first innings, with Jamieson (21) and Tim Southee (30) making vital lower-order contributions at the other end.
While a lead of 32 was crucial in such circumstances, India would have still been the happier of the two sides at the change of innings as their bowlers had brought them back in the reckoning after once fearing that the opposition could run away with things.
Experienced paceman Ishant (3/48) ended with three important wickets, but it was Shami who was the pick of the bowlers and took 4/76 in what was one of his better spells on foreign shores. Spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin (2/28) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/20) also chipped in. Usually so threatening, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah (0/57) looked a bit off, but India will back him to pick up the pace and produce his best as the tour progresses.
Following the change of innings, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill once again batted well at the top of the innings. The duo showed solid defence and awareness outside the outside off-stump until Gill was done in LBW for 8 by a Southee inswinger. However, Rohit kept his guard and produced another matured display expected from a player of his calibre and experience. And though he got out shouldering arms after misjudging one from Southee, Rohit did enough during his innings of 30 to lay a nice foundation for his team. Since the tour of Australia, without any big score to his name, Rohit has quietly played a significant role in seeing through the new ball for India.
After Rohit’s dismissal, Kohli decided not to appoint a nightwatchman to bat alongside the ever-dogged Cheteshwar Pujara and went up to the crease himself. The two senior pros batted watchfully and took their team safely through to the stumps with India ahead.
Brief scores
India 217 & 64/2 (Rohit Sharma 30, Cheteshwar Pujara 12*; Tim Southee 2/17) lead New Zealand 249 (Devon Conway 54, Kane Williamson 49; Mohammed Shami 4/76, Ishant Sharma 3/48) by 32 runs
