Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin provided a crucial breakthrough, getting the better of Devon Conway on day two of the first Test against New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The left-hander missed out on a well-deserved hundred and perished for 91.
The dismissal occurred in the 40th over of the innings as the South African born-cricketer went for the reverse sweep and missed the ball completely. The ball crashed onto the stumps, leaving the 33-year-old flabbergasted at the crease.
Conway had earlier smacked Ashwin for a straight six to reach his half-century off 54 deliveries. The southpaw also built a 67-run lead with visiting captain Tom Latham (15) to help New Zealand storm into the lead.
New Zealand build sizeable lead as Devon Conway and Matt Henry play central roles
By stumps on day two, the Blackcaps have accumulated a 134-run lead, with Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell reasonably comfortable. Will Young also chipped in with a critical 33 off 73 deliveries.
Earlier in the day, Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat first, but the Indian batting unit suffered a terrible collapse to be bowled out for 46, making it their lowest Test total at home.
Only Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant made it to double figures on a pitch that produced extravagant seam. The likes of Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin registered ducks as Matt Henry took a fifer.
With a 134-run lead, the Kiwis will want to press home the advantage by looking to bat all of day three at Bengaluru.
India, meanwhile, will have plenty of work to do, but they will place faith in their bowling unit to get the job done without the tourists putting the match beyond their reach. Rohit Sharma and co. are coming off a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh.
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Edited by Ankush Das
