Pune: New Zealand concluded the first session of Day 1 at 92 for 2, with Devon Conway unbeaten on 47 and Rachin Ravindra on 5, after winning the toss and opting to bat first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.
The visiting openers, Conway and Tom Latham, initially combined for a 32-run partnership before Latham was dismissed by Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for 15, trapped LBW in the eighth over.
Ashwin emerged as the standout bowler for India, claiming 2 wickets for 33 runs in 12 overs and demonstrating his prowess on the turning Pune pitch.
Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah also performed commendably; Sundar has yet to take a wicket after 7 overs, while Bumrah bowled a tight opening spell, conceding just 10 runs in his 4 overs.
The second wicket fell when Will Young was caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant off Ashwin's bowling, leaving New Zealand at 76 for 2 in 23.6 overs. The partnership between Young and Conway contributed 44 runs, but New Zealand struggled towards the session's end, managing only 23 runs in the last 10 overs while losing 1 wicket.
As the session progressed, the Indian spinners began to assert their dominance, with the pitch clearly aiding spin from the outset. Although the New Zealand batsmen initially countered the pace attack, Ashwin’s introduction marked a pivotal shift in the contest.
As the session drew to a close, both teams prepared for an intriguing second hour. New Zealand must navigate the spin challenge posed by Ashwin and Sundar, while the first session ended with them in a relatively secure position. However, the real test lies ahead as India’s spin duo looks to exploit any vulnerabilities in the batting lineup.
