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New Zealand's pace attack, lead by the relentless William O'Rourke (3/13), took full superiority of the overcast conditions, reducing a struggling India to a dismal 34 for 6 at lunch following a shortened first session on the 2nd day of the opening Test on Thursday.
Rishabh Pant (15, 41 balls) was at the crease when Ravindra Jadeja (0) was dispersed just before the lunch break. The 1st day of the match was stranded due to rain. Once the weather cleared, Rohit Sharma chose to bat under a cloudy sky, but none of the Indian batters, or the skipper, showed up at ease.
Rohit was the first to go, attempting to escape after facing 15 balls. His extensive drive was dashed by Tim Southee's wobble seam delivery that cut back discreetly and knocked over his stumps. Before analyzing the struggles of the Indian batters further, it's essential to highlight Matt Henry's opening spell, which persistently troubled them.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, trying to hinder the swing by standing a foot outside the crease, found himself completely bewilder by Henry's deliveries. There were many play-and-miss moments during his innings, as expected in such conditions, yet the left-hander displayed adaptability to remain at the crease.
Virat Kohli (0) came in at the relatively uncommon No. 3 position, but his innings was cut short after just 9 balls. New Zealand captain Tom Latham brought in O'Rourke, who quickly asserted the prized wicket. Kohli tried to jab at a rising delivery towards the on-side but got berserk.
On his 3rd delivery, Sarfaraz attempted to hit Henry over mid-off but was caught breath-takingly by Devon Conway, reminding laughter from Henry. With the score at 10 for three, it was an subtlety to say India was in trouble, and the home side forlornly needed a boost. A brief rainy delay from 10:27 am to 11:05 am must have helped India regroup slightly.