New Zealand close in on victory over India as 16 wickets fall on day two
New Zealand closed in on victory over India in the second Test after 16 wickets fell on day two in Christchurch on Sunday.
India, who trail the series 1-0, made the better start to the day at Hagley Oval, taking a seven-run first-innings lead after bowling the Black Caps out for 235.
New Zealand had resumed at 63-0 and appearing on track to charge past India's first-innings total of 242.
However, after their fightback, the tourists were reduced to 90-6 at stumps in their second innings, a lead of just 97, as the bowlers dominated.
Sunday stumps at Hagley Oval. What a final session. Trent Boult on fire late in the day. Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme also with wickets as India end the day 90/6 and 97 runs ahead. Scorecard | https://t.co/z3Er2dXVK3 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/8xAzPMXU5n — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 1, 2020
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Trent Boult (3-12) did most of the damage for New Zealand, landing the first blow when he trapped Mayank Agarwal (3) lbw.
A short delivery from Tim Southee (1-20) removed Prithvi Shaw, but India seemed to be steadying through Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
But Colin de Grandhomme (1-3) struck the huge blow, getting Kohli lbw for 14 to reduce India to 51-3.
De Grandhomme dropped Ajinkya Rahane on two but it did not hurt the Black Caps, the India batsman bizarrely playing a Neil Wagner (1-18) short ball onto his stumps.
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Boult produced a beautiful inswinger to remove Pujara (24) before also bowling Umesh Yadav (1) as New Zealand closed in on victory.
O my Trent Boult! Moves one back to Pujara and it sails between bat and pad to bowl him for 24. India 84/5 and 91 ahead. Vihari joins Yadav. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/z3Er2dXVK3 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/9RB6sHsG1p — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 1, 2020
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Earlier, Mohammed Shami (4-81) and Jasprit Bumrah (3-62) had helped India fight back after New Zealand's bright start to their first innings.
Tom Latham (52) and Kyle Jamieson (49) top-scored for the Black Caps, while Ravindra Jadeja produced an incredible catch to remove Wagner (21).
Jadeja stuck out a hand as he jumped near the boundary to hold onto a powerful Wagner pull shot.
That moment of brilliance came as India looked on top, but New Zealand's finish to the day has them on track for a 2-0 series win.