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ICC WTC Final 2021: Twitter Reacts As India Ends The 2nd Day At 3/146 After Bad Light Forces Early Stumps

By Yash Mittal

Updated - 20 Jun 2021, 01:21 AM

Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli. (Credits: Twitter)

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Bad light at the Hampshire Bowl has ensured that the 2nd day of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand came to a premature end with just 64.4 overs being bowled on what was an engrossing day of Test match cricket

Batting first, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill successfully negated the opening hour against the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, and Kyle Jamieson

The duo batted outside the crease to negate the movement, were proactive in the footmark, and cashed in on anything that was short or full with disdain.

India, Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma. (Credits: Twitter)

Rohit Sharma, especially, looked in sublime touch. He left the ball outside the off-stump brilliantly, negated the seam and swing, and played some gorgeous shots during his 68-ball 34.

But, just as it looked like the openers were warming up for a 100-run-stand, Kyle Jamieson lulled Rohit Sharma into an ill-fated drive, only to give a catch to the slip cordon.

Shubman Gill WTC final
Photo Credit: (BCCI)

Shubman Gill, who has drove and pulled his way to 64-ball 28, followed suit in the very first over bowled by Neil Wagner

It all happened to the 3rd ball of the 25th over Shubman Gill pushed at a fullish length delivery away from his body to give BJ Watling a regulation catch.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli survived the last few overs before the lunch break to ensure that India went into the changing room at 2/69 after 28 overs.

The second session of the WTC final provided an engrossing passage of play as the New Zealand seamers bowled with a lot of discipline than they did in the first two hours and consistently tested the Indian batsmen,

Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara batted with a lot of patience against New Zealand’s first-choice seamers in Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme in the opening hour of the post-Lunch session.

Colin de Grandhomme, in particular, was immaculate in his line and length and he consistently tested Virat and Pujara on and around the off-stump.

Watch: Neil Wagner Breaks The Soft Protection Of Cheteshwar Pujara's Helmet With A Vicious Bouncer
Watch: Neil Wagner Breaks The Soft Protection Of Cheteshwar Pujara’s Helmet With A Vicious Bouncer

Pujara finally got off the mark with a cracking cut behind square on his 36th delivery and he backed it up with a sumptuous cover-drive, both against Neil Wagner. Wagner immediately resorted to short-pitch bowling and proceeded to hit Pujara on his helmet.

New Zealand. (Credits: Twitter)

Kane Williamson made an inspired change by bringing Trent Boult and the move paid off immediately as the left-arm seamer trapped Pujara plumb in front of the wicket to leave India three down for 88.

The same over by Boult saw a controversial moment as the umpires, inexplicably, decided to go upstairs to check whether Virat had got a feather on a leg-side delivery.

New Zealand hadn’t reviewed it and the fact that the on-field umpire did not give his decision, made the move even more puzzling.

Kohli, however, survived as the ultra-edge confirmed that there was no spike.

India, Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli leans into a cover-drive [Image Credit- Getty]
The last hour of the second session saw attrition cricket as Kohli and Rahane continued to bat with a lot of discipline against the relentless Kiwi seamers, especially against Kyle Jamieson.

Virat Kohli, in particular, looked in immaculate control, as he respected the good balls but at the same, the legendary batter en-route to 7500 Test runs, continued to convert singles into 2s and 3s.

The 2nd session came to an abrupt end after the umpires decided that the light had deteriorated substantially and an early Tea was taken.

The game resumed shortly after the break but thanks to bad light, only 9.1 overs were possible in the 3rd session as India finished the day at 3/146 with skipper Virat Kohli [44 not-out off 124 balls] and Ajinkya Rahane [29 not-out off 79 balls] holding the fort with an unbeaten 58-run-stand.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

https://twitter.com/fwildecricket/status/1406227815675092993?s=19

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ICC World Test Championship Final India vs New Zealand Final

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