It was one-way traffic in the first session of Day 2 of the opening Test in Kanpur as New Zealand speedster Tim Southee came out firing on all cylinders. The New Zealand pacer demolished the Indian batting line up taking four wickets in the opening session of the day. Although Shreyas Iyer made his presence felt by scoring a hundred on debut, it was the opposition bowler who truly made the session his own.
Southee became the first overseas player to take a fifer at Green Park in 42 years. In December 1979, Pakistan bowlers Sikandar Bakht and Ehteshamuddin took five wickets each in the first innings at the same venue.
The 32-year-old picked also became the second bowler to take multiple fifers against India on Indian soil. It was also the 13th fifer of his Test career. He ended with a tally of 5/69.
Southee now has 49 Test wickets for New Zealand against India. Only legendary New Zealand pacer Richard Hadlee has picked more wickets against India. Hadlee has 65 wickets to his name in 14 innings whereas Southee has managed to take 49 in 10 innings.
With the new ball just four overs old, Southee made perfect use of the situation. The ball stayed low which was an encouraging sign for spinners, but it was the right-arm pacer who was still able to stamp his authority at the Green Park.
