Twitter Reactions: Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway put New Zealand in a position of strength on Day 3

Play was abandoned for the second consecutive day due to bad light.

By Pratyay Tiwari

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Kyle Jamieson
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Kyle Jamieson. (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

New Zealand found their noses marginally ahead on the second day of the WTC final, after they wrapped their rivals for a total that has started to look increasingly undercooked, more so because of the way they applied themselves while negotiating the Indian pace troika of Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami.

Much like their rivals New Zealand, who were uncharacteristically unimpressive with the new ball on the first day, letting both Indian openers settle in without much friction, the Indian bowlers lacked the wicket-taking sharpness as they struck with what Kumar Sangakkara on-air termed the “pretty length” – one that pleases the eye, forces you to utter oohs, but does not bring the wickets.

Latham, Conway steady New Zealand

The opening pair of Tom Latham and Devon Conway added 70 runs with only Mohammed Shami managing to create an impression that a wicket was round the corner. That, however, did not happen with luck favouring both the openers as the ball flew past the edges or on being nicked went over the head of the close-in fielders.

India’s struck no sooner than the 35th over, when R Ashwin ended Latham’s 30-run knock, as he deposited one straight to extra cover, where Virat Kohli plucked a Kohli-esque catch. After Latham’s exit, Devon Conway continued eating the deficit alongside Kane Williamson and brought up his half-century. Things went into India’s favour post that when an off-colour Bumrah found some rhythm and joined Ishant Sharma to throw one maiden after another.

With dreadfully dark clouds hovering over the Ageas Bowl, India struck moments before the play would be abandoned due to bad light. Ishant ended Conway’s 154-ball vigil, getting him caught by Shami at mid-on.

Jamieson’s punch knocks India out

Earlier in the day, Kyle Jamieson spitted venom on a damp, overcast morning after India resumed proceedings at 146/3 with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the middle. It took merely three overs for Jamieson to get first purchase as he undid Kohli on his overnight score of 44, rapping him on the pads with a one that jagged back in from a full length. The skipper challenged Michael Gough’s call, only for ball-tracking to show up three reds.

Nasser Hussain, on-air, informed that only seven of Jamieson’s deliveries in the fixture would have hit the stumps, and the seventh one had Kohli walking back. Soon Jamieson got Rishabh Pant caught at second slip, enticing him into a drive after the southpaw’s cautious start that saw him get his first runs after 20 balls. However, he paid the price, throwing his bat hard at the ball with the foot planted, to walk back for four.

The Indian hopes relied on Rahane, however, he found himself walking back after playing a Neil Wagner short ball straight into the hands of square leg, also missing his half-century by a solitary run. Jadeja and Ashwin, who were expected to add depth in the Indian batting unit, could not prove of much worth, as Ashwin edged Tim Southee to slips after a brief 23-run stand with Jadeja, while Jamieson dismissed Ishant and Bumrah on successive deliveries to quash any hopes of lower-order resistance.

While Ishant nicked him to slips, Jamieson yorked Bumrah lbw with a deadly, inswinging yorker to bag his fifth fifer in eight Tests. India was wrapped up for 217 when Jadeja played and nicked a delivery going wide down the leg-side from Boult. Watling, playing his last Test, did not drop too many like that in his career. He did not, today either.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

https://twitter.com/WarwickBluenose/status/1406666995551158282?s=20

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