New Zealand‘s tour of India continues to go from bad to worse in the second Test and they face a massive recovery effort if they are to stay in the match and series at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Join The Roar for live scores of Day 3 from 3pm (AEDT).
After being blown off the park at Green Park during the first Test, New Zealand were struck with a massive blow coming to Kolkata as Kane Williamson pulled out of the match through injury, and they have simply been unable to recover.
Williamson isn’t an excuse for their bowlers to suffer and of course, he shouldn’t be a one-man team with the bat, but he is just so vital to New Zealand’s chances.
India would win the toss in Kolkata and elect to bat first, which they did well throughout the first day and into the second racking up 316 on the back of 87 from the in-form Cheteshwar Pujara.
While it was the spin bowlers that destroyed the Kiwis in the first match this time it was the pace of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who picked up five wickets and one point had reduced them to 3 for 23.
New Zealand went to stumps on 7 for 128, a deficit of 188 runs and with only BJ Watling still at the crease to provide anything as a recognised batsman.
Day 3 Prediction
India are cruising in this match right at the moment, but with rain expected on both Days 4 and 5 they will be looking to get well ahead today.
The way New Zealand are batting, their first innings will be lucky to see out the first half an hour, with only three wickets in hand. They have already passed the follow-on target which takes that tricky decision out of Kohli’s hands, but expect India to be aggressive and look to have New Zealand about 400 behind by stumps.
There is a potential they could put them back in, but it really depends on exactly how bad they think the weather is going to be – there should be some play on each day, but it’s hard to be sure and India won’t want to let such a good position slip.
Regardless, for the tourists the only result they can achieve from this point looks to be a hard-fought draw and even that is a pipe dream unless the weather really sets in over the final two days because with no Williamson, it’s hard to see them improving.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of the third day’s play in this second Test between India and New Zealand from 3pm (AEST) and don’t forget to get involved by dropping a comment below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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