Agarwal nears 150 as India grind New Zealand

Ajaz remained New Zealand’s handiest wicket-taker, having taken all six to fall

Lunch India 285 for six (Agarwal 146*, Axar 32*, Ajaz 6-103) vs New Zealand

The unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 61 had driven India into more secure territory after a double Ajaz strike within the day’s 2d over, in a morning consultation the place endurance was once the theme for all sides. India scored handiest 64 runs in 28 overs bowled within the consultation, however did not lose any wickets after two had fallen in the second one over of the day to go away them wobbly. All of the whilst, Agarwal carried on as though he had no longer left the crease, appearing decisive footwork, fast arms and the sound judgement of which balls to go away and which to play that had held him in such excellent stead on Day 1.

Agarwal wasn’t shy of dancing down the observe to take a look at and hit Ajaz off his lengths, however he did not do it in trigger-happy model, choosing and opting for his moments. When Will Somerville followed a in large part defensive position to him, bowling on leg stump from across the wicket, he did not attempt to manufacture pictures to push the scoring alongside, however waited for the inevitable mistakes in period that allowed him to knock the ball into gaps.

On the different finish, Axar confirmed his batting chops too, specifically sq. of the wicket when given room and period outdoor off, or when the bowlers strayed complete at the pads. In combination, the 2 steadied India after Ajaz had threatened to get to the bottom of them.

In his first over of the day, Ajaz skid one onto Wriddhiman Saha’s entrance knee-roll, with the batter mis-reading the period and striking at the again foot. It seemed out in real-time and Saha opted to stroll off with out taking a evaluate after a short lived chat with Agarwal. The evaluate don’t have stored him in the end, with the have an effect on being umpire’s name on off-stump however the ball hitting the stumps. The very subsequent ball, Ajaz were given one to float and dip on Ashwin who could not succeed in the pitch even if lunging ahead, just for the ball to spin the easiest quantity to omit bat however hit stumps. Ashwin was once so flummoxed he signaled for a evaluate in the beginning, as a result of he idea he have been given out stuck at the back of.

The 2 moves first up supposed India went from a robust 221 for 4 to a shaky 224 for six, which is when Axar joined Agarwal.

Ajaz persisted to wheel away, and stayed constant, however the different bowlers presented handiest intermittent threats. Tim Southee was once tight, however no longer threatening sufficient, whilst Somerville and Kyle Jamieson could not stick with constant lengths and features.

New Zealand took the brand new ball as quickly because it was once to be had after 80 overs, even though Ajaz persisted to perform from one finish even with the ball exchange. In all, he bowled 13 of the 28 overs of the morning consultation, and has bowled 42 of the 98 overs that New Zealand have despatched down to this point.

On a pitch that already provides sharp flip, India have reached a complete that may give them some respiring area, even though they are going to glance to their closing batters to push that into extra protected zones. For New Zealand, a lot is determined by what else Ajaz can conjure, except the opposite bowlers step it up too and so they may just nonetheless hang India to an affordable general.