Rain delays India-New Zealand Kanpur Test

KANPUR: Rain delayed the start of the final session of play in Kanpur with New Zealand on 152 for one in response to India´s 318 in the first Test on Friday.

Skipper Kane Williamson on 65 and Tom Latham on 56 were at the crease at the tea break as the groundsmen covered Kanpur´s Green Park after heavy drizzle on day two.

The visitors still trail India by 166 runs in the first innings.

The visitors lost opener Martin Guptill earlier in the day but Williamson and Latham´s unbeaten 117-run stand provided a strong reply to India´s first innings total of 318.

The left-handed Latham was on 56 with Williamson on 65, with New Zealand trailing the hosts by 166 runs in the first innings on day two.

Williamson survived a scare when a Ravichandran Ashwin ball hit the back of his helmet. The back flaps which provide extra support to the skull fell onto his stumps, but didn´t dislodge the bails.

Latham also rode his luck after Ravindra Jadeja got the batsman caught at short leg, but replays showed the ball hitting the helmet grille of fielder Lokesh Rahul.

The decision was referred to the third umpire who gave the batsman not out as according to the rules, external protective gear cannot come into play while taking a catch.

The duo got to their respective fifties soon after, although off-spinner Ashwin and left-arm spinner Jadeja continued to trouble the batsmen.