INDIA TOP ON DAY 2
WELLINGTON: New Zealand scored 24 runs at the loss of one wicket by the end of Day 2 against India at the Basin Reserve stadium. The second day was once again dominated by the Indians with their batting prowess at full display. Shikhar Dhawan will be gutted with himself for missing his second consecutive hundred. However, the Delhi southpaw gave crucial start for India early in the day. Rohit Sharma flopped yet again after Jimmy Neesham bagged his maiden Test wicket for the Kiwis. But, the real trouble mounted after the loss of Virat Kohli for India. But, MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane added a crucial 120 runs for the seventh wicket to repair the innings for the visitors. Dhoni and Rahane shifted gears soon after with the latter going on to score his maiden Test hundred for India. With an imposing lead to chase, New Zealand would have wanted to play through the day. However, Zaheer Khan struck early in the innings to inflict another setback for the hosts. New Zealand have a huge task at hand tommorrow while India wil be eager to scalp a few more wickets in the morning session of Day 3.
Ajinkya Rahane's maiden Test ton highlighted Day 2 of the Wellington Test, where India secured a 246-run lead after being bowled out for 438 in the first innings. In the second innings, New Zealand are 24 for 1, trailing by a 222-run margin.
For the first time on the tour, India began the day in ascendency, and they capitalised by making giant strides towards a series-levelling win, which if achieved will be their first overseas win since June 2011. At the centre of India's dominance, of a day during which they threatened to leave the door ajar, was Ajinkya Rahane, who brought up his maiden Test century after enduring moments of drama with the notoriously unhelpful Zaheer Khan for company. When Rahane came in to bat, India had lost two quick wickets to be five down and were still 27 behind, but he soothed nerves and exorcised the haunting memories of Trent Bridge 2011 during a full-of-intent partnership of 120 with MS Dhoni in 24.1 overs, which took India to their seventh-highest lead away from home.
This was only the sixth away century by an Indian No. 7, but also it was a first century for someone who had spent years amassing close to 6000 first-class runs before he was even given a chance to score one for India. Rahane's celebration betrayed no frustration or anger you would associate with a modern batsman who has had to wait for so long. His innings was equally level-headed. He could just as easily have become part of a collapse, and made Dhoni lament another big moment lost, which has happened way too often with India from home.
Despite Ishant Sharma's annoying 40-minute stay in the morning, despite Shikhar Dhawan's continuance of his charge, India had that familiar feeling of an impending collapse when they lost three wickets for 24 runs around the first-hour mark. It included the wicket of Dhawan two runs short of what would have been a third century to a clever scrambled-seam offcutter from Tim Southee. Rohit Sharma had just dragged on a wide half-volley from debutant Jimmy Neesham. India needed something solid especially given how Virat Kohli was not looking his solid self on a day that he would have sensed domination around the corner.
Rahane, though, kept his head even though all around him were losing theirs. Ravindra Jadeja went bang-bang for his 26 off 16, Zaheer tried his best to get out and leave Rahane in the 90s with the No. 11, and the umpires called a Wagner no-ball that didn't quite look like one after having missed quite a few earlier in the day. Rahane enjoyed a slice of luck, too, when he tried to work the last ball of an over to leg from outside off, and the leading edge flew over gully. The shot, necessitated by Zaheer's presence at the other end, took him to 96, and the hundred came up without further drama.
The drama for the day was not done yet as the struggling Peter Fulton padded up to Zaheer, and was trapped lbw. New Zealand ended the day needing 222 to make India bat again.
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