Kohli keeps Blackcaps’ all-seam attack at bay as India negotiate testing day in Southampton

SCORECARD

An unbeaten stand of 58 between India skipper Virat Kohli and his vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will see Ravi Shastri’s side resume on 146/3 on day three.

Kyle Jamieson was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, racking up nine maidens and putting India’s top order under relentless pressure, finishing the day with figures of 1/14 from 14 overs.

Play started half an hour early following Friday’s washout, with New Zealand winning the toss, picking an all-seam attack, and opting to bowl in overcast conditions.

But India got off to a solid start, with Rohit Sharma in particularly fluent form, stroking four boundaries as the opening pair passed fifty. A change in the bowling attack stemmed the early flow of runs, and New Zealand got the breakthrough they were striving for when Tim Southee took a fine catch low to his right off the bowling of Kyle Jamieson to dismiss Sharma for 34.

New Zealand picked up their second wicket before lunch when Neil Wagner struck with only his third ball of the match, catching a nibble off the edge of Shubman Gill’s bat that was comfortably taken by BJ Watling in the keeper’s final Test.

India resumed on 69/2 after lunch with Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara seemingly intent to bed in for the afternoon session. Pujara was in a belligerent mood, scoring off just two of the 53 deliveries he faced before Trent Boult got one to swing back in, catching him on the pad and sending the No. 3 packing for 8.

Boult thought he had Kohli caught down the leg side just four balls later, but although an umpire referral for grounding showed that the catch was taken cleanly by Watling, a subsequent check of Ultra Edge showed no spike, meaning Kohli survived.

Bad light forced the players off shortly before the scheduled tea break, and light again halted play just three overs after the restart.

Conditions thankfully improved, allowing Kohli and Rahane to resume the evening session, and the pair survived a testing six-over spell, adding nine further runs before the weather closed in for a third and final time.

India will resume on 146/3 on Sunday morning, with Kohli unbeaten on 44* and Rahane still there on 29*.