India strike early after taking slender lead against New Zealand at tea

Akash Deep made an early breakthrough after India fought hard to take a slender firstinnings lead against New Zealand with the visitors reaching 261 at tea on the second day of the final Test here on SaturdayNew Zealand trail India be two runsIndia who folded for 263 in reply to New Zealands 235 took a lead of 28 runs after Shubman Gill 90 missed his century and Ajaz Patel 5103 found his mojo to claim another fiveforAkash provided a rare sight of a pacer disturbing a batters furniture on a turning track when he dismantled Tom Lathams 1 off and middle stumps in the first overBut Will Young 8 not out and Devon Conway 15 not out did well to thwart Indias challenge and ensure no further damage was causedEarlier Indias remarkable progress given the plight of their batting took a severe blow with the exit of Rishabh Pant 60 towards the end of the morning session as its effects were felt acutely when play resumed post lunchFrom Pants dismissal in the 38th over to India eventually folding in the 60th the team managed eight fours and two sixes iquest the wicketkeeperbatter alone hit that many during his brisk halfcentury earlierAlso ReadThrowback to when India last played a Test at WankhedePatel finding the right length reaped rewards as the Kiwi spinner claimed another fivefor at the Wankhede Stadium following up his world record 10119 in the first innings of the 2021 Test hereFrom 180 for five India folded for 263 with Gill falling short of his landmark while others continued to disappointPerhaps there was no greater disappointment than to see Sarfaraz Khan looking like a fish out of water during his fourball struggle failing to open his account at his home turf where at times he has plundered runs for funSarfaraz failed to read the length of his first ball and went for a mighty sweep against Patel in his pomp but was beaten by the bounce and turn on the next He might have fallen on the third ball when it bounced off his glove but there was no silly pointBut he had to walk back when the bounce and turn had the ball settling in keeper Tom Blundells gloves after kissing the shoulder of his batGill who showed no flaws in his 146ball stay with seven fours and a six iquest longest for any batter in this Test iquest was also among Patels victims on the day as the Mumbaiorigin Kiwi spinner had him caught at the first slip after a fine knockRavindra Jadeja 14 too was caught at first slip albeit off Glenn Phillips as Washington Sundar waged a lone battle among the three allrounders scoring a brisk 36ball 38 not out with four boundaries and two sixesWith agency inputs