Bangalore, Aug 31 (IANS) Skipper Ross Taylor led a New Zealand fightback with an unbeaten century as the visitors went to tea at a healthy 240/5 on the first day of the second cricket Test against India here Friday.
In the second session, the Kiwis added 132 runs to their lunch total of 108/3 even as the Indian attack wilted under Taylor’s onslaught.
Earlier on, it was opener Martin Guptill (53, 79b, 8×4) who held the innings together after being let off when on 17, as Virat Kohli at third slip dropped a regulation catch.
Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who opened the bowling in the morning along with Zaheer Khan, picked up three of the five wickets, while the veteran seamer and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took one apiece.
The Kiwis recovered from a tentative start when they lost three wickets for 89 in the pre-lunch session as Taylor adopted an aggressive posture with a sparkling innings.
Taylor and Daniel Flynn (33) put on 107 runs for the fourth wicket, before the latter fell to a brilliant catch by Suresh Raina while attempting to drive Ojha.
It was Taylor (112 not out, 119b, 16×4, 2×6) who set a hectic pace after lunch with a series of shots all around the wicket as he comfortably negotiated the Indian bowling that seemed to flag.
Ojha, who came in for some stick, got rid of Guptill, Kane Williamson (17) and James Franklin (8) while Zaheer struck early by removing Brendon McCullum and Ashwin removed Franklin to leave the game evenly poised at tea.
