Related Links: India Tour of New Zealand 2013/14 – Schedule and Scorecards | 2nd ANZ Test at Wellington – NZ Vs Ind – Scorecard
Ajinkya Rahane (Photo credit: Ravinder Singh Gill)
Ajinkya Rahane scored a superb maiden Test century and Skipper MS Dhoni came out with a crucial fifty to power India to a sizable first innings lead of 246 runs in the 2nd ANZ Test at Wellington. By Stumps on Day 2, on Saturday evening at the Basin Reserve, India have got New Zealand 24 for 1 in their second innings.
India resuming Day 2 at 100 for 2 found itself in trouble at 165 for 5. Night watchman Ishant Sharma departed first but after a handy contribution of 26. Ishant Sharma was caught by BJ Watling playing a rash drive off Tim Southee to end a 52-run stand for the 3rd wicket. Shikhar Dhawan, the other overnight batsman missed his 3rd Test century by just two runs! Shikhar Dhawan was caught behind after feeling for an away swinger from Tim Southee. Dhawan’s 98 came in 127 balls with 14 fours and a six.
Rohit Sharma was out for a 3-ball duck when he dragged an expansive drive off a widish yorker from James Neesham onto the stumps. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane after that had an important partnership which rescued India from a possible collapse and also took them into the lead. Virat Kohli got out making a mistake of playing a booming drive with short covers in place off Neil Wagner. Virat Kohli scored 38 from 93 balls while adding 63 runs with Ajinkya Rahane.
New Zealand were defied by a big partnership of 120 runs between Ajinkya Rahane and Skipper MS Dhoni. The pair batted out the second new ball to build up the lead. MS Dhoni was eventually dismissed to a short ball from Trent Boult for 68 (from 86 balls with 9 fours and a six). Ravindra Jadeja followed Dhoni with an attacking cameo before he was caught edging to slips off Neil Wagner for a 16-ball 26.
Ajinkya Rahane after the completion of his 1st Test century was looking to collect some quick boundaries. As a result he got out caught brilliantly in the deep by Trent Boult. Rahane scored a career best of 118 from 157 balls with 17 fours and a six. Zaheer Khan was the last man out, edging a pull off Neil Wagner to the keeper, but not before chipping in with 22. India was bowled out for 438 in 102.4 overs with Boult, Southee and Wagner taking three wickets each.
By stumps, Zaheer Khan provided a breakthrough for India with the wicket of Peter Fulton, who was lbw, playing no shot to a pitched up inswinger in the 2nd over.
Match Video: Ajinkya Rahane thanks Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar after maiden Test century
