New Zealand are in a dominant position in the first Test against India as they rode on Devon Conway's 91 and Matt Henry's sizzling fifer after Rohit Sharma's men were bundled out for a mere 46 runs. At the end of Day 2, New Zealand were firmly placed on 180/3, maintaining a lead of 146 runs.
After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first in the Bengaluru Test, New Zealand's fast bowlers rolled India for a paltry 46 runs, their lowest total at home in Test history.
Devon Conway's impressive knock of 91 runs lifted the tourists to 180-3 at stumps, giving them a commanding lead of 134 runs. This significant step towards a first victory in India since 1988 came as a surprise for a team that had lost their last four Tests, overcoming form, injury, and off-field unrest.
New Zealand's chances in the World Test Championship had diminished after their recent losses in Sri Lanka, which led to Southee resigning as captain. Latham took over the leadership and, despite not being able to bat first as he desired, made the most of the opportunity, leading his team to a strong position.
New Zealand's bowlers dominate
Given the way Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke were bowling, the captaincy armband seemed less significant.
With conditions resembling a gloomy first morning Henry, in particular, appeared to be in his element. The Cantabrian bowler displayed exceptional accuracy, exploiting the movement available, and consistently troubled the batsmen with his deliveries, leading to five wickets for 15 runs in 13.2 overs. Henry's impressive performance continued the form he showcased last summer, solidifying his place in the XI for the remainder of the series. His inclusion was especially significant considering his exclusion during the 2-0 defeat against Sri Lanka.
New Zealand's pace attack shines
O'Rourke's performance (4-22) complemented Henry's lateral movement, and his ability to extract bounce from the pitch proved to be a deadly weapon. Southee initiated the rout before handing over the spotlight to two rising stars.
While the hosts opted for a spin trio, New Zealand's decision to play three seamers paid off. This was the first time in India that all 10 wickets were claimed by visiting pacers since Southee's career-best 7-64 at the same venue in 2012.
Despite losing that match in 2012, the current situation seems to be heading in the opposite direction with three days remaining.
The weather in Bengaluru created ideal conditions for New Zealand, with the pitch becoming tacky due to its time under covers and the overcast conditions offering plenty of swing. As the sun emerged and New Zealand's batters took the crease, the conditions became more favorable for batting.
India's batting nightmare in Bengaluru
India suffered a disastrous batting collapse on Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand, being bowled out for a paltry 46 runs. This was their lowest-ever Test total at home and their third-lowest overall in Test cricket history. India's innings lasted a mere 31.2 overs, highlighting the dominance of New Zealand's pace bowlers, led by William O'Rourke and Matt Henry. Veteran Tim Southee initiated the collapse, dismissing Indian captain Rohit Sharma early in the innings. India's decision to bat under overcast conditions and on a pitch that remained under covers due to rain proved to be a costly mistake. The Indian batting lineup was further marred by five ducks, with Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and R Ashwin failing to score at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
