Indian cricket team gained a 28-run lead over the New Zealand side on Day 2 of the third and final Test match which is being played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, the lead could have easily gone past the 60 or even 80-run mark had the hosts not succumbed to another collapse, here on Saturday. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant smashed half-centuries and put India in respectable position.
Gill and Pant's fifties
Shubman Gill finally ended his quest for a Test fifty. In a hectic morning session for India at the Wankhede stadium, Gill reached the milestone in 66 balls, marking his first half-century in three Test matches.
Gill came to bat when Rohit Sharma was dismissed by Matt Henry in the seventh over of the first day. Despite his cautious beginning, Gill gradually gained confidence and put together a 50-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal. He did, however, witness the mayhem at the close of Day 1 when India went from 78 for 1 to 84 for 4 in just 9 balls. On Day 2, Gill would be India's main man as he and Pant attempted to carry out their rescue mission.
India recovered from a difficult situation on Day 2 because of Pant's dominating performance on Saturday. The duty of getting the day off to a strong start with the bat fell to Rishabh Pant, who took the field on Friday night following fifteen minutes of insanity from the Indian cricket squad. In the opening over of the day's play, Pant accomplished just that, but in his own way, punching left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel for two boundaries.
Throughout the first hour of the day's play, Pant remained aggressive against the New Zealand spinners, preventing any success for the visiting bowlers. On Day 1 evening, the team fell from 78 for 1 to 84 for 4 in 15 minutes, but Pant and Shubman Gill's 96 runs for the fifth wicket helped them get out of trouble.
India suffer another collapse
Indian suffered another collapse as they lost their final 6 wickets for 83 runs. They went from 180/4 to 263 all out. Due to this they could only take a 28-run lead. Ajaz Patel was the star of New Zealand's bowling attack as he took another five-wicket haul.
