Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Mayank, Axar keep New Zealand at bay after early strikes. The duo shared an unbeaten 61-run stand
The duo shared an unbeaten 61-run stand
New Zealand struck in the second over of the day in Mumbai with a double strike, but the common factors for both teams on Day 1 continued to shine on Day 2 with Mayank Agarwal leading the way for India, while Ajaz Patel added two more wickets to his tally. Mayank remained unbeaten on 146 leading India to 285 for 6 at Lunch on Saturday (December 4). Ajaz, meanwhile, became the first New Zealand spinner to take a five-wicket haul in the first innings of a Test in India. Axar Patel and Mayank, with a fifty-run stand, however, ensured India were ahead after the first session, with a reviving stand.
The visitors would've been seeking early wickets after a fighting stand between Mayank and Wriddhiman Saha kept New Zealand at bay after a wobble in the middle with a half-century stand. With ten overs to go for the new ball in the morning, Ajaz struck in his first over, and New Zealand's second, to first break the 64-run stand by trapping Saha LBW before knocking over R Ashwin's stumps next ball. Axar saw off the hat-trick ball and thereafter built a more-than-handy stand with Mayank, adding 61 for the seventh wicket. Axar showed why he's a useful resource down the order, unbeaten on 32, keeping New Zealand at bay, with plenty of turn and bounce on offer.
Mayank bore the fruits of leaving the ball much better in Mumbai than in Kanpur. He used his feet against the spinners and stepped out a long way to take on Patel, staying aggressive against him and not letting him get the better of him. Ajaz mixed his pace and brought to the fore his variations to keep the batsmen in check. Tim Southee got a hint of swing early on with the new ball, he tested Mayank with his angles and both the inswinger and the outswinger, but the wickets column remained on nought. Mayank and Axar helped India recover from the double blow early in the day. Ajaz picked up all the six wickets to fall in India's innings. In 28 overs this session, 64 runs were scored.
Brief scores: India 285/6 (Mayank Agarwal 146*, Shubman Gill 44, Axar Patel 32*; Ajaz Patel 6-103) vs New Zealand.
