Mumbai Test: Mayank Agarwal remain unbeaten on 146 while Ajaz Patel takes 6 wickets at lunch on Day 2

India scored 285 for 6 going into lunch on Day 2 with the help of a 61-run unbeaten partnership between Mayank Agarwal and Axar Patel.

Axar Patel and Mayank Agarwal stitched together an unbeaten partnership of 61 going into lunch on Day 2 of the Mumbai Test; Credit: Twitter/@BCCI
By Sreejith C R | Dec 4, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

India started Day 2 of the second Test against New Zealand in Mumbai on 221 for 4 and finished with 285 for 6. New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel who had taken all four wickets on the first day continued to trouble the Indian batsman as he took the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha for just 27 before dismissing Ravichandran Ashwain for a golden duck. However, No. 8 batsman Axar Patel along with the centurion Mayank Agarwal steadied the ship with a partnership of 61 from 157 balls. Mayank played second fiddle to Axar as he finished the session with 146 not out from 306 balls.

New Zealand started the day pretty well when Ajaz took the wicket of Saha to complete his five-wicket haul. The wicketkeeper-batsman was trapped LBW in only the second over of the day. The 33-year-old immediately took the wicket of Ashwin with a stunning delivery. Ashwin didn’t judge the turn correctly and the ball clipped the tip of the off stump.

There was a slight confusion therefore the umpire referred it to the TV umpire and the third umpire confirmed Ashwin’s dismissal. Ajaz was on a hat-trick but didn’t get it as Axar played a defensive stroke in the third ball.

Axar and Mayank looking comfortable

Although wickets fell from one end, Mayank looked comfortable as he continued from where he left with a boundary and couple from Tim Southee’s over. Axar at the other end was struggling at the initial phase of his innings. Ajaz could have got his seventh as Axar mistimed his shot but it landed just beyond the reach of the bowler.

Right-arm spinner William Somerville was quickly introduced into attack and it was now spin from both ends. However the Indian pair kept rotating the strike and the scorecard was ticking. After the initial struggle, Axar quickly settled in and started to play his shots and finished the session with 32 not out from 98 balls.

Axar and Mayank are looking comfortable as none of the Kiwi bowlers other than Ajaz looks threatening. Mayank has handled Ajaz pretty well so far whereas Somerville is struggling to get his length right and the Indian batsman have not missed out on scoring from loose deliveries.





Related Post

HIGHLIGHTS

Buzzwords