Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Southee, Iyer shine in engrossing morning session. Tim Southee bagged a five-wicket haul after Shreyas Iyer registered a ton on debut
Tim Southee bagged a five-wicket haul after Shreyas Iyer registered a ton on debut
Tim Southee and Shreyas Iyer hogged the limelight during the morning session of Day 2 in Kanpur, as India slid to 339/8 against New Zealand at Lunch. The experienced paceman bagged a five-wicket haul while Iyer completed the milestone of scoring a century on Test debut.
At the start of the day, with India nicely placed at 258 for 4, the visitors needed a spark of inspiration. And that spark was provided by Southee. The 32-year-old, who struggled with a niggle on Day 1, showcased his bowling smarts to cut through India's middle and lower-order. Ravindra Jadeja, who shared a crucial association of 121 with Iyer, was the first of his victims. From round the wicket, Southee sowed the seeds of doubt by mainly bringing the ball back into the all-rounder, and he was rewarded for his persistence when the southpaw chopped a three-quarter seam delivery onto the stumps.
Wriddhiman Saha was Southee's next scalp. After pulling his length back, Southee bowled the sucker delivery from wide of the crease to induce the ‘keeper-batter to edge one behind. Southee continued to bowl with discipline and wicket-taking nous, and was rewarded with the key scalp of Shreyas Iyer. The centurion drove the outswinger to the fielder stationed at covers. The New Zealand spearhead wasn't done yet as he once again employed the three-quarter seam delivery that straightened on the angle to dislodge Axar Patel.
At that juncture, India seemed to be in danger of being snuffed out before the Lunch break. However, R Ashwin guided the side to the break in the company of Umesh Yadav. New Zealand may rue the missed stumping chance in the 97th over that gave Ashwin a reprieve. Ajaz Patel was the unlucky bowler. With the track showing signs of staying low, the tourists would look to pick up the last two wickets as quickly as possible after the break.
The morning session also belonged to Iyer. The middle order batter played with freedom at the start of the day and cracked a volley of shots. Iyer essayed the drive, flick, twinned with a few steers to keep the scorecard ticking over. He soon became the 16th Indian to reach the landmark of compiling a century on Test debut with a double off Kyle Jamieson. Iyer aptly removed his helmet and celebrated the milestone by kissing his Indian badge.
Brief scores: India 339/8 (Shreyas Iyer 105, Shubman Gill 52, Ravindra Jadeja 50; Tim Southee 5-69) vs New Zealand.
