Wagner strikes on stroke of tea to get rid of fighting Vihari-Pujara stand

Prithvi Shaw and Cheteshwar Pujara, two batsmen in the spotlight for different reasons after the Wellington Test, made technical and mindset changes on the run to help India stay competitive once they lost another toss and were asked to bat on a green pitch, which like the majority of New Zealand surfaces, looked more difficult than it actually was. Hanuma Vihari made the the majority of a reprieve on nine to push India ahead together with Pujara, but fell from what turned out to be the last ball before tea.

Out of sorts the other day because of insufficient footwork, Shaw got his foot moving and scored a 64-ball 54 to disrupt the brand new Zealand bowlers in the first session. In the middle of the just one more intent storm, Pujara showed more urgency and in addition batted on middle and off stump to counter the brand new Zealand bowling. Pujara's unbeaten 53 was an especially important hand as India went from 80 for 1 to 113 for 4. India had an overenthusiastic BJ Watling to thank after he dived before Ross Taylor at first slip to drop Vihari on nine, which would have turned to score to 134 for 5. Vihari then cut absolve to end up with 55 off 70 balls before engaging in a contest with Neil Wagner and, eventually, falling.

Pujara can be an established batting encyclopaedia and you anticipate him to create adjustments, but it was impressive from Shaw that he sorted out a weakness in a single net session between your matches. Shaw had two problems in Wellington: no foot movement, and trouble against the short ball. That allowed the swing bowlers to pitch right up, and in addition test him with the bouncer. In Christchurch, right from the first exchanges, Shaw displayed positive front-foot movement, which took him nearer to the swinging ball. His natural attacking instinct remained intact, and he benefited from a pitch that came on and didn't offer an excessive amount of seam movement.

Tim Southee tried that real full ball again, but this time his foot moved and allowed his bat to track the movement. In Wellington, he finished up getting squared up and playing to midwicket. Here he played straight and in to the covers. It commenced with Southee shortening the length just a little as Shaw kept meeting the full balls. And Shaw was quick enough to rock back and punch the last ball of the 3rd over for four. In Southee's next, he showed lovely shots off both feet. First he went back to punch a length ball away for four prior to the on-drive as Southee went looking for swing. India 26 for 0 in five overs.

Trent Boult brought control back to proceedings with a masterful to Mayank Agarwal, which brought him the wicket too. He moved the first three balls out, in and out to create a variety of indecision in the mind of Agarwal. And the fourth one was full and right to trap him lbw.

The 13th ball that Pujara faced he threw his hands at. This was clear sign that he previously been spoken to about his intent in Wellington where he batted a lot more than two-and-a-half hours for a brace of 11s. The other problem India had in Wellington was allowing Colin de Grandhomme bowl at under two an over. Shaw took care of this by leaning into drives against the gentle pace and swing, taking three boundaries off his first two overs. Even though Kyle Jamieson beat him comprehensively in the 18th over, he was looking for runs next ball.

When Kane Williamson went to Wagner, the plan practically worked as Shaw top-edged a hook second ball, nonetheless it sailed over the tallest man on the field, Jamieson, at fine leg. That also raised his fifty. Jamieson, though, kept bowling full to Shaw, and caused the edge for Tom Latham to grab in spectacular fashion at second slip. He leapt up goalkeeper-style to seize it in his left hand.

With Virat Kohli's arrival minutes before lunch, Williamson returned to his new-ball pair. Southee kept testing him outside off before lunch, dragging him across, before bowling the perfect ball first up after lunch. It swung in the air, and then nipped in after pitching to trap Kohli in the front. Kohli went on to waste India's second review, much like Agarwal had. Southee's six-over spell also brought about Ajinkya Rahane's wicket, edging to slip.

When Jamieson produced the edge from Vihari, having pushed him back before pitching it up, New Zealand were looking at dominance again, but Watling left Taylor frustrated initially slip. During this time period, Pujara exposed with two lovely drives off Boult, that have been different to his earlier attempts at muscling the ball. From 20 off 64, his innings now started out to flow smoothly.

New Zealand returned to Wagner and de Grandhomme. Wagner's bouncers brought some control as he went for just eight runs in a seven-over spell.

Williamson returned to Wagner again right before tea, which time Vihari started to take him on. He pulled, he upper-cut, he drove the knuckle ball, but these contests will often have only 1 winner: Wagner, who keeps coming at you. Eventually Vihari gloved one down the leg side.