First Test in Kanpur – Shreyas Iyer gives India early advantage over New Zealand
Debutant Shreyas Iyer was unbeaten on 75 at the close
Debutant Shreyas Iyer was unbeaten on 75 at the close

DEBUTANT Shreyas Iyer and recalled opener Shubman Gill have struck half-centuries to help India overcome Kyle Jamieson’s terrific display of seam bowling and post 258-4 in the opening Test against New Zealand in Kanpur.

If Gill’s 52 helped India overcome the early loss of opener Mayank Agarwal, Iyer’s unbeaten 75 yesterday prevented New Zealand from taking control of the contest after Jamieson had prised out three top-order wickets on the opening day.

Ravindra Jadeja also helped himself to an unbeaten 50 having raised 113 runs with Iyer for the burgeoning fifth-wicket stand.
Green Park Stadium’s dry, brown pitch had prompted both sides to pack three spinners but it was Jamieson who impressed the most with the ball on a slow track.

“Hopefully the new ball swings a bit in the morning and we can take a few wickets,” Jamieson (3-47) said.
“India are probably a fraction ahead, but we did well to have them four down.”

With several frontline players, including regular captain Virat Kohli, either rested or recuperating, India fielded a new opening pair after opting to bat on a hazy morning in the north Indian city.

Jamieson drew first blood, dismissing Agarwal caught behind for 13, but Gill had a longer, eventful stay.
The 22-year-old was wrongly adjudged lbw even before he could open his account, a decision that had to be overturned after replays confirmed an inside edge before ball hit pad.

Gill, then on six, was also lucky when Ajaz Patel’s half-hearted lbw appeal against him was turned down.
New Zealand were left to rue not reviewing that decision as subsequent replays confirmed the ball would have gone on to hit the middle stump.

Gill hit Patel for a six en route to his fifty and his second-wicket stand with Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 26, was worth 61 when Jamieson struck.
The towering seamer dismissed Gill in the first over after lunch when the opener dragged a good-length ball from outside the off-stump onto his stumps.

India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane fell to Jamieson in similar manner after a fluent 35.
Iyer nearly holed out in the deep trying to score his first Test runs but soon figured out a safer way to do so.

He hit two sixes and seven boundaries and remained on course for a century in his first Test innings.

Jadeja scored his 17th Test half-century off 99 balls, including six fours, his century partnership with Iyer coming off 192 deliveries
The Test sides had last met in June when New Zealand triumphed in the World Test Championship final.

India are without senior players including Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah for this two-Test series.
It’s the first Test assignment for new coach Rahul Dravid, who started his tenure in the preceding Twenty20 series with a 3-0 win over the New Zealanders. (Yahoo Sport)

INDIA 1st innings
Mayank Agarwal c Tom Blundell b Kyle Jamieson 13
Shubman Gill b Kyle Jamieson 52
Cheteshwar Pujara c Tom Blundell b Tim Southee 26
Ajinkya Rahane b Kyle Jamieson 35
Shreyas Iyer not out 75
Ravindra Jadeja not out 50
Extras: (b-1, lb-1, nb-4, w-1) 7
Total: (four wkts, 84.0 overs) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-21 2-82, 3-106, 4-145 .
Bowling: Tim Southee 16.4-3-43-1, Kyle Jamieson 15.2-6-47-3 (w-1, nb-4), Ajaz Patel 21-6-78-0, William Somerville 24-2-60-0, Rachin Ravindra 7-1-28-0.

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