India finish trailing behind New Zealand by the end of day two after they reached a total of 283/5 before the match concluded for the day 2 of the second and final test between India and New Zealand on Saturday. Suresh Raina was the star for India, leading the team back on path with a much needed half century.
His unbeaten 51 included a maximum and eight fours taking the score to 168-4 before the teams broke for tea leaving India trailing a little short of 200 runs by then. In what could be a pleasant relief and a life to the batsman, Kohli was stumped in a delivery from the deadly Jeetan patel but luckily for him the wall was declared a no-ball.
With the score not moving from the double digits, Raina and Virat Kohli had managed to stay at the crease and score 88 runs together for the fifth wicket. Kohli stood at 33 not out for the day with one six and four fours.
The kiwis managed to stop the runs with their fast bowlers and the inclement weather with clouds. Tim Southee struck twice in the morning while his teammate did the same after lunch.
Gautam Gambir had headed to the pavillion soon after he set foot on the ground falling prey to Tim's clever delivery. He has yet again proved his failure in test sessions. Cheteshwar Pujara who had performed extremely well in his debut match was dismissed after he miscued a bouncer to the long leg. Bracewell dismissed Virender Sehwag (43) and Sachin Tendulkar (17) in his successive overs.
Gambhir had been dropped once already with his already abysmal score of just two, in the slips by Brendon Mc Cullum in a delivery from Trent Boult.
Soon after Pujara in the line was Virender Sehwag who had been caught by Daniel Flynn. Tendulkar had to get back to the dressing room after Bracewell had triumphed over him putting pressure on the team.
Raina had managed to ease the pressure by counter attacking with three back to back boundaries and in another over he had thrashed Southee to the rope twice in an over. Patel was mercilessly hit for a six.
Earlier in the morning Pragnyan Ojha had a commendable personal figure with 5-99, which is his only third such instance of claiming over five wickets in a test innings.
New Zealand added 37 runs in 8.4 overs to their overnight total of 328-6.
Kruger van Wyk (71) was caught by Raina in the slips giving the break for the day while Zaheer Khan bowled.
The New Zealand wicket-keeper added just eight runs to his score of 63 in today's morning session.
Bracewell was run out after scoring 13 runs and Patel was caught by Gambhir at third man off seamer Umesh Yadav.
Southee had to go back after being confounded by Ojha's delivery going for a leg before wicket leaving New Zealand with no wickets to spare at 365.
Zaheer finished with 2-83, while Yadav and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin each took one wicket.
At the end of day two India leave the ground 82 runs trailing behind NZ.
(AW- Anil)
