New Zealand vs India, 2020: 1st Test - Who Said What

New Zealand defeated India in the first of the two-match Test series in Wellington. The hosts bundled the opposition out for just 191 runs in the second innings nipping out the last six wickets in just 47 runs on the fourth morning. Tim Southee was star for them picking yet another five-wicket haul ending the match with 10 wickets as well. This also turned out to be the 100th Test win for the Kiwis in their cricketing history in the longest format.

After losing the toss, the visitors needed to put up a brave effort with the bat on a green pitch. But they couldn’t handle the heat succumbing to only 165 runs. Their backs were against the wall then with the bowlers needing to step up in the need of the hour. But Kane Williamson kept them at bay scoring 89 runs. However, even then the Indian bowlers stuck to their task and reduced the home side to 225/7 at one stage.

But once again they failed to clean up the tail conceding 123 runs for the last three wickets with the likes of Kyle Jamieson, Colin de Grandhomme and Trent Boult having some fun with the bat. New Zealand posted 348 runs in their first innings taking a hefty lead of 183 runs over India.

India capitulate in the second innings too

With the pitch getting better to bat on, the tourists were expected to put up a better show. However, that wasn’t the case. Only Mayank Agarwal looked comfortable scoring a half-century even as the wickets fell around him. Ajinkya Rahane fought it out in both the innings but even he failed to convert his starts. Virat Kohli fell into the trap both the times getting out to Jamieson and Boult.

While there were hopes from Rahane and Hanuma Vihari on the fourth day to revive the team’s innings, the duo fell in the first half an hour itself leaving the side in doldrums. India were skittled for 191 runs in their second essay setting only a 9-run target for the Kiwis who gunned it down without even breaking a sweat.

India captain, Virat Kohli said:

(On what went wrong) Day 1, the toss did turn out to be very important. But at the same time, we take a lot of pride in being competitive as a batting unit and we were just not competitive enough. I don’t think we put their bowlers under enough pressure. Anything over 220-230 and we would have been talking a different language. Even the deficit looks lot lesser if you get that score and take those last three wickets cheaply. The first innings really put us behind in the game and the lead put us under pressure.

As a bowling group, we have been pretty competitive in bowling good channels for long periods of time. Till about 7 wickets, we were pretty good. The wicket did get better. The last 3 wickets and those 120 runs hurt us and pushed us out of the game. Overall, we did put in a good effort but can still be more disciplined. It doesn’t need to be pointed to them as the bowlers have recognized themselves. That can happen at the international level. You don’t have to be too hard on the guys.

Prithvi has played only two games away from home. He is a natural strokemaker and would figure out things to get the runs going. Mayank was outstanding in both the innings. Him and Jinks were the only two batters who got some tempo. We just need to stick our template as a batting unit.

New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson said:

It was an outstanding effort over a space of 4 days. We know how strong this India team is all over the world. The effort that went into the first innings to get the ball in the right areas for long periods of time did help.

With the bat to get what was a very competitive total on a surface which offered something throughout the game was very important. The lower order runs are very important to get some sort of a handy lead. It was brilliant, the wicket. We didn’t know what to expect looking at it the day before. The grass cover did brown off.

The bowling attack was brilliant. We were able to get some swing thanks to the ground being windy. Kyle Jamieson has been brilliant throughout the summer with the white ball as well. He contributed in a number of ways. A great debut for him. Great experience for him to bowl with a somewhat settled group.

Southee came in and wanted to operate as best as he could. The left arm and right arm combination has done it for us and they showed it again especially with the old ball. The passion and the energy they showed was brilliant. Tom Blundell is alright and was just a precautionary thing. He says his pain is 2 out of 10.

Man of the Match, Tim Southee said:

A great win. To beat a quality Indian side, the way we have is very pleasing. The effort throughout from everyone was outstanding. I think this morning was a massive moment in the game. Being able to pick up those two wickets before the second new ball was crucial. The more you play, you get back into the rhythm. If you want to play three formats, you got to chop and change. As a bowling unit, to take 20 wickets and an effort like this was pretty pleasing. The wicket had more in it than usual. With the wind there, the ball did a bit more.