
Bad light hindered play twice before the first day's proceedings of the World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand were called off at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday.
India were 146/3 at stumps with Virat Kohli (44*) and Ajinkya Rahane (29*) stitching a valuable 58-run unbeaten partnership.
Bad light plays spoilsport and that's stumps in Southampton!
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2021
India finish day two on 146/3 with Virat Kohli on 44* and Ajinkya Rahane keeping him company on 29*.#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | https://t.co/4vtSUyliQF pic.twitter.com/Xq9vD448Zk
Earlier, India, being put in to bat first, started off strongly with openers Rohit Sharma (34) and the young Shubman Gill (28) being watchful over the first hour. They manoeuvred the likes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee with ease and showed their brilliance to the occasional loose balls.
🔸 Southee’s brilliant catch
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2021
🔸 Gill’s perfect pull
🔸 Kohli’s cracking drive
Vote for your @Nissan #POTD 🗳️ https://t.co/MQkUhcygiX#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/NtX35vB4wv
They put on a commendable 62 runs for the first wicket until Kyle Jamieson plucked Rohit off a thick outside edge. Southee at the slip made no mistake to hold on to a low catch.
🎤 “Lovely. Absolutely gorgeous shot.”
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2021
Your @bharatpeindia Fiery Fours features some 🔥 hits from Day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship 2021 Final 🙌 pic.twitter.com/aTRRna3B7N
Soon after Rohit’s dismissal, Gill had to depart after teasing a length ball just outside the off stumps from Neil Wagner.
Watch all three wickets on Day 2:
Not many wickets fell at the Hampshire Bowl today, but the ones that did were crackers – take a look at your @bookingcom Best Wickets 👇 pic.twitter.com/84d4H8y08Y
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2021
Going into lunch with two set batsmen out, India had a long journey to make in the second session. Even though skipper Virat Kohli looked in good touch, the run rate came down drastically following Rohit and Gill's exit.
Cheteshwar Pujara (8) took a while to get off the mark but couldn't make it count as he was trapped leg before by Boult a short while into the second session.
Trent Boult comes into the attack and immediately traps Pujara in front of the stumps!
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2021
🇮🇳 are 88/3. #WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | https://t.co/Yu3aNXlNZJ pic.twitter.com/5ZeCTQPrkH