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1st Test, Day 1: India finish at 291/9 as New Zealand comeback strongly

Kanpur, Sep 22: India frittered away a solid start as a middle-order collapse saw them reduced to 291 for 9 on the opening day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand despite half-centuries from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, here on Thursday (September 22).

Ind-NZ series schedule</a>; <a href=Photo Gallery" title="Ind-NZ series schedule; Photo Gallery" />Ind-NZ series schedule; Photo Gallery

After electing to bat in the historic 500th Test, India were comfortably placed at 154 for riding on 112-run second wicket stand between Vijay (65) and Pujara (62).

 New Zealand seamer Mitchell Santner celebrates with his teammates after dismissing K.L. Rahul on the opening day of the first Test match at Green Park in Kanpur on Thursday.

However a disciplined bowling effort complemented by some inept shot selection by middle and lower order saw four wickets for 16 runs after the second new ball was taken.

(Here is full list of India's Test captains)

Rohit Sharma (35) once again got a start only to throw it away at the fag end of the day. Ravichandran Ashwin was well set before being dismissed to a brilliant delivery from Trent Boult.

While left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (3/77) rocked the top-order, it was Boult, who looked menacing with the second new ball finishing with figures of 3/57 in 17 overs.

(India's Test captains felicitated at 500th Test)

All his wickets during the last 10 overs of the day. Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 11 at the end of the day with Umesh Yadav (8).

Cheteshwar Pujara plays a shot on the opening day of the first Test match against New Zealand at Green Park in Kanpur on Thursday.

The Green Park track was not a rank turner on the first day itself but it did offer some assistance to the spinners.

(In Pics: New Zealand bowlers dominate Day 1 of India's 500th Test)

The Kiwis fielded three spinners - Santner, offie Mark Craig and leg-break bowler Ish Sodhi, who bowled 59 out of the 90 overs.

India were comfortably placed at 154 for 1 after losing KL Rahul (32) but lost four wickets in gap of 15 overs, spread over two sessions to get into the backfoot.

Mitchell Santner celebrates with his teammates after dismissing K.L. Rahul on the opening day of the first Test match at Green Park in Kanpur on Thursday.

Rohit (35) and Ashwin (40) combined for a fighting 52-run stand for the sixth wicket. In an important phase in his Test career, Rohit was expected to fire and he showed some early promise before trying to chip one off Santner over mid-on but was holed out by Sodhi.

(India play 500th Test: Sachin Tendulkar has played 200 of them)

 Indian batsman Murali Vijay raises his bat after completing a half-century on the opening day of the first Test match against New Zealand at Green Park

The other two Indian batsmen who played poor shots were skipper Virat Kohli (9) who fell for Neil Wagner's short ball mistiming a pull-shot. Boult, in his final spell of the day, got rid of Ashwin wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha (0) and Mohammed Shami (0) nearly polishing off the Indian tail.

(#500th Test: Veteran India cricketers get nostalgic)

Wriddhiman and Shami got identical deliveries that jagged back in from three quarter length breaching their defence. Ashwin got one that was full and kicked up from good length as he gloved it to Ross Taylor at wide second slip.

Team India's 500th Test match

(India Test team is 'fabulous': Sachin)

Earlier in the day, India captain Virat Kohli won the toss against New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and opted to bat first.

"Never imagined to captain 500th Test for India," Kohli said after winning the toss and on leading the Indian side in 500th Test. (Honoured to captain India in 500th Test: Kohli)

"Fairly dry surface. Preparation's been good. Acclimatised to the heat in Delhi, but I supposed the wicket looks a little bit different. Exciting young team. We've got some world-class seamers who have shown their skills for a long period of time. Three spinners, Boult and Wagner are the seamers," said Williamson after losing the toss. (Preview: 1st Test)

Meanwhile, former India captains were felicitated by the BCCI and UP Cricket Association on the historic occasions.


Playing XI:

India: Virat Kohli (C), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (C), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Luke Ronchi, BJ Watling (wk), Mitchell Santner, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)

Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:36 [IST]
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