Washington Sundar’s Career-Best 7 For 59 Helped India To Restrict New Zealand For 259
IND VS NZ: Washington Sundar’s Career-Best 7 For 59 Helped India To Restrict New Zealand For 259 At the start of the series, Washington Sundar was not even part of this Test squad. He was drafted into the squad only a few days earlier after his heroics in a Ranji Trophy match against Delhi. He straight away made into the squad at the expense of Kuldeep Yadav, who played the first match of the series in Bengaluru last week.
Off-spinner Washington Sundar registered career-best figures of 7 for 59 that triggered a collapse as New Zealand fell from 197 for 3 to get bundled out for 259 on the opening day of the second Test in Pune. India finished on 16 for 1 as their captain Rohit Sharma departed for a duck.
India dominated throughout the day 1
India made three changes ahead of the match and they added another off-spinner to the squad, that also lengthened their batting line up. New Zealand had made a quick start to their innings with a flurry of boundaries against Indian seamers. Their batters also extended their forms as both Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scored their second half century of the series.
However, the introduction of spin in the eighth over gave early breakthrough for India as R Ashwin dismissed Tom Latham in his first over of the spell. As the match progressed, spinners came into the action. Indian spin trio Ashwin, Jadeja and Sundar did manage to beat the bat on numerous occasions and even hit the pads several times.
New Zealand batters seemed comfortable in the middle for a long period but all of sudden things changed quickly just before the Tea on day 1, with the dismissal of Rachin Ravindra, who got bowled on a classical off-spin delivery from Washington Sundar. He also removed Tom Blundell in his very next over.
Washington’s Sundar show at Pune
Sundar got the start a bit late but once he took the charge, everyone had no answer for him. He showed his glimpse just before the tea and ruled after in the third session of the day.
He continued his brilliant performance in the third session. Washington, who kept testing the off stump with his off-breaks, was the beneficiary of that collapse. While Mitchell was trapped leg before and Glenn Phillips holed out to Ashwin at long off, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel and Santner had their stumps knocked over, deceiving them with flight and turn.
