The master gave the early breakthroughs. And the protege — also from his hometown — carried on the mantle in a manner that not only overshadowed the master but also helped India restrict New Zealand to a manageable total on a track that offered turn right from the start.
Riding on Washington Sundar’s sensational spell and Ravichandran Ashwin’s crucial strikes, India bowled New Zealand out for 259 in the last hour of the opening day’s play of the second Test. Tim Southee then rattled Rohit Sharma’s off-stump as India finished the day at 16 for one on a hot and humid day at the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s stadium at Gahunje.
On a pitch that was tailormade for India’s spin trio — with Washington replacing Kuldeep Yadav — Tom Latham won a crucial toss.
Ashwin, introduced in the eighth over, struck off his fifth ball, beating Latham with a little bit of drift and turn and Latham accepting the on-field umpire’s decision. Early wicket for Ashwin always poses ominous signs for the opposition but the veteran offie had to wait a little longer before Sarfaraz Khan – preferred over K.L. Rahul – at forward short-leg played a big role in Will Young being caught-behind.
Ashwin bowled one on the leg-stump that turned further away and Young closed the face of his bat and the Rishabh Pant accepted it neatly down the leg. Ashwin was unsure of a contact, Pant did not appeal but Sarfaraz forced Rohit to review the call and the replays showed the ball having kissed the glove.
While Conway was sweeping and reverse-sweeping the spinners effectively, his three boundaries in the opening over off Jasprit Bumrah of the afternoon session. Rachin joined him in and used his feet effectively against the spin.
Soon after successfully going after Washington, Conway managed to nick one off Ashwin and Pant caught it cleanly. Daryl Mitchell then never really got himself in but hung in there with Rachin continuing to dominate the bowlers.
With around 15 minutes remaining before tea, Rohit Sharma reintroduced Washington into the attack from the south end. Until then, he had bowled 13 overs in two spells from the north end with no success. But the first ball of his new ball turned out to be the game-changer. It pitched on the middle, drew Rachin forward and turned just a little bit to hit the top of off-stump.
In his next over, Tom Blundell was beaten in flight and turn as the ball crashed into the middle-stump through the gate and Washington’s comeback to Test cricket was well and truly marked.
The last session saw Washington continuing his dream spell that read 10.1-1-28-7. The lanky offie attacked the stumps and was rewarded regularly. The fact that five of his seven victims were bowled underlined his accuracy and ability to read the surface. It was fitting that he ended the innings by beating Santner for turn and the ball crashing into the off-stump.
India’s specialist batters will be hoping that they won’t have to ask too much of the Chennai charmers with the bat on Day Two!
Scoreboard
New Zealand – 1st innings: Tom Latham lbw b Ashwin 15 (22b, 2×4), Devon Conway c Pant b Ashwin 76 (141b, 11×4), Will Young c Pant b Ashwin 18 (45b, 2×4), Rachin Ravindra b Washington 65 (105b, 5×4, 1×6), Daryl Mitchell lbw b Washington 18 (54b), Tom Blundell b Washington 3 (12b), Glenn Phillips c Ashwin b Washington 9 (31b), Mitchell Santner b Washington 33 (51b, 3×4, 2×6), Tim Southee b Washington 5 (8b, 1×4), Ajaz Patel 4 (9b, 1×4), William O’Rourke (not out) 0 (0b); Extras (b-8, lb-2, nb-3): 13
Total (in 79.1 overs): 259.
Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Latham, 7.5 overs), 2-76 (Young, 23.6), 3-138 (Conway, 43.2), 4-197 (Rachin, 59.1), 5-201 (Blundell, 61.6), 6-204 (Mitchell, 63.3), 7-236 (Phillips, 73.4), 8-242 (Southee, 75.1), 9-252 (Ajaz, 77.6).
India bowling: Bumrah 8-2-32-0, Akash 6-0-41-0, Ashwin 24-2-64-3, Washington 23.1-4-59-7, Jadeja 18-0-53-0.
India – 1st innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal (batting) 6 (25b, 1×4), Rohit Sharma b Southee 0 (9b), Shubman Gill (batting) 10 (32b, 1×4).
Total (for 1 wicket, 11 overs) 16.
Fall of wicket: 1-1 (Rohit, 2.6 overs).
New Zealand bowling: Southee 3-1-4-1, O’Rourke 3-2-5-0, Ajaz 3-1-5-0, Santner 2-0-2-0.
Published – October 24, 2024 10:42 am IST
