On a day when India reasserted their supremacy over New Zealand in the second Test in Kolkata by first getting to a healthy first innings score of 316 and then reducing the Kiwis to 128/7 at the end of the day, two under-rated players stole the show with some fine performances.
The morning went to Wriddhiman Saha who showed tremendous grit in the face of some hostile fast bowling from New Zealand's pace bowlers. Saha, playing at his home ground, took blows on his body but hung on and played a series of lovely shots to spearhead India's recovery from a precarious 239/7. He remained unbeaten on a gutsy 54, which contained seven boundaries and two sixes.
When New Zealand batted, they found themselves at the mercy of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, making a comeback to the team in place of Umesh Yadav. Kumar kept the ball on a probing length and accounted for Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls as New Zealand plunged to 85/4.
A rain-break interrupted proceedings but it only made things worse for New Zealand. The extra moisture and the dampness in the air meant Kumar got more purchase for his probing line. He dismissed New Zealand's only batsman who had offered some resistance, Ross Taylor with a beauty that nipped away and got his edge and then came back to dismiss Mitchell Santner and Mark Henry in consecutive deliveries, to get a five-for to his name.
New Zealand trail by 188 runs. India are well on course for a series-clinching victory.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 128/7 (Ross Taylor 36; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5/33) trail India 316 by 188 runs
