[Watch] Washington Sundar cleans up Tim Southee for maiden Test 5-fer in during 2024 IND vs NZ 2nd Test
Washington Sundar castled Tim Southee to take his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests on Day 1 of the ongoing match between India and New Zealand in Pune on Thursday, October 24. The off-spinner achieved the landmark in the 76th over of the Kiwi’s first innings.
He bowled a length ball from round the wicket and it beat Southee’s outside edge to crash onto the off stump. Southee walked back for five runs off eight balls as the visitors were reduced to 242/8.
Watch the video below:
Washington Sundar also took the wickets of Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, and Daryl Mitchell to complete his fifer. This was his first fifer in first-class cricket since August 2022, the first on Indian soil after October 2017.
Notably, Sundar replaced Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. The 25-year-old's selection was questioned but he shut everyone down with his performance with the ball. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder earned his comeback after scoring 152 runs and picking up six wickets against Delhi in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy match. He will now look to show his prowess with the bat.
Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin steal the spotlight on Day 1
A clinical bowling display from Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin helped India dominate New Zealand in the second Test on Day 1. Sundar finished with career-best figures of 7/59, while Ashwin dismissed the top three batters.
Opting to bat first, the Tom Latham-led side were bundled out for 259 in their first innings. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra starred with the bat, scoring 76 (141) and 68 (105), respectively. Mitchell Santner also chipped in with 33 off 51.
New Zealand are currently leading the three-match series 1-0 following their eight-wicket victory over India in Bengaluru in the first Test. It was their first Test win in India since 1988.
The hosts will now look to bounce back in the series to consolidate their top spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
Follow the IND vs NZ 2nd Test live score and updates here.