Kolkata: Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s (5/33) brilliant bowling after a late batting blitzkrieg put India firmly in command as they reduced a hapless New Zealand to 128 for seven on the rain-hit second day of the second cricket Test here Saturday at the Eden Gardens.
The Indians, resuming at 239/7, produced a purposeful batting performance in the morning session with Wriddhiman Saha (54 n o, 85b, 7×4, 2×6) scoring his third Test half century to help the team reach 316 all out in 104.5 overs. The Kiwis are still 188 runs behind and facing the prospect of another big defeat after the 197-run drubbing in the opening Test in Kanpur.
The Kiwis faced 34 overs in all after a bulk of the final session was held up due to wet ground conditions and stumps were drawn early because of bad light.
With a challenging total on board, the Indian bowlers were incisive against their rivals in the post-lunch session, reducing them to 85 for four. But then their efforts were stalled for close to two hours as seasonal showers made the ground unplayable.
However, once play got underway, Bhuvneshwar lit up the gloomy atmosphere with his feisty spell. He removed stand-in skipper Ross Taylor (36) in his first over after play was resumed. It was a beautiful delivery that got Taylor, with the batsman drawn to the ball as it seamed off the pitch. He then took two wickets in next over removing Mitchell Santner (11) and Matt Henry (0) off successive balls.
Mohammed Shami (1/46) bowled with pace and bounce to tighten the noose at the other end. He was distinctly unlucky not to get Taylor earlier with Saha just managing to get his gloves to an edge.
Earlier, the Kiwis were reduced to 23 for three at lunch before Luke Ronchi (35, 52b, 5×4, 1×6) steadied the innings along with Taylor with a 62-run fourth wicket stand. However, just before the rain-interruption Ravindra Jadeja had Ronchi plumb in front with the arm ball.
In the morning session, the highlight was Saha’s gritty knock. He was involved in a quick 31-ball 35 last wicket partnership with Shami (14) which took India past 300. Saha, playing on his home turf played some lovely drives on both sides of the wicket.
However, at the other end, Jadeja trying to hook Neil Wagner (2/57) hit the ball down Matt Henry’s throat at deep fine-leg and then Santner dismissed Kumar. When a 300-plus score distinctly looked impossible, Saha and Shami batted with authority to take India to a fighting total.
Wriddhi all praise for Bhuvi bowling effort
India wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha said here Saturday that Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s surprise inclusion was done keeping in mind the grassy Eden Gardens pitch – a move which has paid off with the medium pacer reducing New Zealand to 128 for seven at the end of the second day’s play here Saturday. 
“The players are selected as per the requirements of the game. Umesh (Yadav) played in last match but we thought the wicket would be a bit more seamer-friendly so Bhuvi came into the team,” Saha told reporters here after the game.
The Indian glovesman also said that India benefitted during the stage when the game was played under lights. “There was more movement for the bowlers under lights and to aid to the Kiwi woes, Bhuvi and (Mohammad) Shami bowled in the right areas. We want to get them all out as quickly as possible tomorrow morning,” informed Saha.
This incidentally was Bhuvneshwar’s fourth five-wicket haul and second in back-to-back series.
In spite of some of the deliveries behaving unnaturally on the newly-laid Eden Gardens pitch, Saha was not ready to call it a ‘deathbed’ for batsmen. “No I wouldn’t agree to that (bad pitch) theory,” asserted Saha. “One or two deliveries did behave oddly, but we had batted on far more difficult wickets during the last home series against South Africa.”
Saha also stated that he felt happy with the way he batted. “Everybody appreciated my effort,” he stated. “But more than anything, I am happy that I could contribute when the side needed runs,” he added.
Press Trust of India
