Latham, Williamson lead strong New Zealand reply

KANPUR, India: Captain Kane Williamson and opener Tom Latham led a strong New Zealand reply with unbeaten half-centuries before rain washed out the final session of the second day of the first Test against India on Friday.

The pair shared an unbroken 117-run stand to take New Zealand to 152 for one at tea before it started drizzling at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium and no further play was possible.

Having bowled out the hosts for 318, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill (21) before lunch but the left-right combination of Latham and Williamson negated the home spinners with aplomb.

Latham was unbeaten on 56 with Williamson on 65 as New Zealand trailing India by 166 runs with nine wickets in hand.

“We were disciplined, we stuck to the gameplans. When the Indian bowlers missed, we jumped all over,” New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan told reporters.

“The way they rotated the strike, their left hand-right hand combination throughout the partnership was crucial.”

Guptill could not convert the start he got and was trapped lbw by a full, swinging delivery from Umesh Yadav.

Latham and Williamson, however, looked comfortable against the spinners who did manage a few leg-before appeals but could not separate them.

The batsmen brought up their individual fifties in successive overs, but not before Latham had survived a scare.

He went for a sweep shot against Ravindra Jadeja and the deflection hit his boot and popped up for Lokesh Rahul to take the catch at short leg.

The decision was referred to the third umpire who ruled in the batsman’s favour after replays suggested the ball had touched the chin strap of Rahul’s helmet.

According to regulations, parts of protective gear must not come into play while taking a catch.

India’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar said an early wicket was all the home team needed when play resumes on Saturday.

“It’s a matter of getting that breakthrough and putting the pressure back on them,” said Bangar.

Score Board

India won toss

India 1st innings

K L Rahul c Watling b Santner         32

M Vijay c Watling b Sodhi     65

C A Pujara c & b Santner     62

*V Kohli c Sodhi b Wagner   9

A M Rahane c Latham b Craig         18

R G Sharma c Sodhi b Santner        35

R Ashwin c Taylor b Boult     40

†W P Saha b Boult    0

R A Jadeja not out    42

M Shami b Boult        0

U T Yadav c Watling b Wagner       9

Extras (b 5, lb 1)      6

Total (all out; 97 overs)      318

Fall: 1-42, 2-154, 3-167, 4-185, 5-209, 6-261, 7-262, 8-273, 9-277, 10-318

Bowling: Boult 20-3-67-3; Wagner 15-4-42-2; Santner 23-2-94-3; Craig 24-6-59-1; Sodhi 15-3-50-1

New Zealand 1st innings

M J Guptill lbw b Yadav        21

T W M Latham not out        56

*K S Williamson not out       65

Extras (b 8, lb 1, nb 1)        10

Total (1 wicket; 47 overs)   152

To bat: L R P L Taylor, L Ronchi, M J Santner, †B J Watling, M D Craig, I S Sodhi, T A Boult, N Wagner

Fall: 1-35

Bowling: Shami 8-1-26-0; Yadav 7-2-22-1; Jadeja 17-1-47-0 (1nb); Ashwin 14-1-43-0; Vijay 1-0-5-0

Umpires: R A Kettleborough (England) and R J Tucker (Australia). TV umpire: A K Chaudhary. Match referee: D C Boon (Australia)