New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Will Young ensured the second day would go the way of the visitors as both put in superb batting performances, thwarting India’s famed spin attack, who had no answer to the grit and application from the openers.
While the more aggressive Young was inching close to his century, Latham reached his half century just before close of play as India’s bowlers were left puzzled, unable to find a way through. India had a couple of close calls, but NZ’s batters survived thanks to the DRS which overturned the decisions correctly. Latham survived three decisions as the DRS calls went in his favour.
Earlier, Tim Southee's five-wicket haul helped roll over the Indian batting for 345. At Stumps, NZ were 129/0 with Young unbeaten on 75 and Latham on 50, incidentally the identical scores as Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja at close of play on Day 1.
Day 2 belonged to the visitors who trail by 216 runs.
Starting off on 258/4 on the second day, Jadeja was dismissed early as Iyer found the boundary with great regularity in the first hour. Iyer, who was unbeaten on 75 on Day 1, quickly reached his century, completing the milestone with a two to deep point of Southee.
Jadeja, the other overnight batter, was dismissed without adding to his score of 50 while Saha was caught behind by Tom Blundell for 1. R Ashwin, who scored a century in Chennai earlier in the year against England, was able to score at good click in the morning, timing his shots well as India crossed the 300-run mark.
After Iyer though, India's spinners Axar Patel and R Ashwin could not add to many together with the left hander being caught behind for 3 off Southee, becoming the pacer's fifth wicket in the innings.
Ashwin and Umesh then dropped anchor with the off-spinner taking the majority of the strike as India's 9th wicket added 26 more to the cause before the first session ended.
After the Lunch break, NZ struck of the second delivery as Ajaz Patel cleaned up R Ashwin for 38 before Ishant Sharma was trapped LBW for 0. Umesh Yadav added the only runs for India post Lunch with a six of Kyle Jamieson, lifting the hosts to 345.
New Zealand's openers Will Young and Tom Latham were likely to have their task cut out against India's bowlers and survived a few probing overs with the new ball from Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, before R Ashwin came on and kept things tight along with Ravindra Jadeja.
Both Young and Latham were more than happy to play the waiting game and were going along at slow pace, playing without too many risks.
Latham had a couple of LBW shouts against him but was saved by the DRS on both occasions as he had edged it onto his pads.
Latham and Young kept up their watchful approach and scored 72 before the umpires called time on the session. Young who was the more aggressive batter in the partnership completed his half century at the start of the final session.
NZ's openers had thwarted the Indian attack and were making the second day theirs after the bowlers, especially Southee bowled brilliantly in the opening session.
The openers, well set by now, didn't give away anything and the flat surface made batting a comfortable prospect too. Latham swept Jadeja powerfully to the fence in the 39th over of the innings as the NZ openers put on a century stand and were looking to eat away at India's total further before close of play.
Just before close of play, Latham got to his half century and soon after saw another dismissal overturned by the DRS of Ashwin.
The duo dropped anchor and weren't going to allow India any advantage on the day.
When the light was offered to the openers they gladly took the offer as NZ finished with 129/0 at stumps on Day 2.
Day 1 Recap
India won the toss in Kanpur and Ajinkya Rahane opted to bat first and Shubman Gill got the team off to a good start with a stylish half century in the opening session. However, New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson troubled the India batters and picked 3 wickets, two in the afternoon session as the visitors clawed back in the contest post Lunch.
However, despite the wickets of Jamieson and Southee NZ could not press home against new man Shreyas Iyer who along with Ravindra Jadeja dropped anchor. The duo played out more than one session and piled on the runs at good speed, adding a 113 runs before the umpires called time early due to bad light.
At stumps on Day 1, India were 258/4 with Iyer, Jadeja and Shubman Gill having scored half centuries on the opening day.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)