New Zealand frustrated India to earn a slender lead of 32 runs on the fifth day of the world test championship final on Tuesday.
Fast bowlers Mohammed Shami (4-76) rattled the top order but Kane Williamson ground out a hard-fought 49 off 177 balls while Tim Southee (30) and Kyle Jamieson (21) made useful contributions. The Black Caps were bowled out for 249 at tea.
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New Zealand frustrated India to earn a slender lead of 32 runs on the fifth day of the world test championship final on Tuesday.
Earlier, India’s fast bowlers took three cheap wickets and undercut New Zealand’s innings to 135-5 by lunch, allowing the Kiwis to score just 34 runs in two hours of incisive bowling.
Shami struck twice when Ross Taylor was well caught on 11 in the covers by Shubman Gill, and he clean bowled BJ Watling -- playing in his last test -- for 1 with a delivery that darted away from the right-hander.
Williamson survived a close lbw television referral off Shami after lunch. Shami was as effective with the second new ball as he was before lunch.
New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson, left, looks on as India's Ishant Sharma, right, bowls a delivery during the fifth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match between New Zealand and India, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, England, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP PhotoIan Walton)
New Zealand was only four runs ahead of India’s first-innings total of 217 when Williamson was caught at wide slip off Ishant Sharma (3-48) but Southee hit two sixes and a boundary to lift the Black Caps further ahead.
New Zealand's Ross Taylor plays a shot during the fifth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match between New Zealand and India, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, England, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP PhotoIan Walton)
Earlier, India’s fast bowlers took three cheap wickets and undercut New Zealand’s innings to 135-5 by lunch, allowing the Kiwis to score just 34 runs in two hours of incisive bowling.
Williamson resumed on 12 when play got underway for the first time since Sunday evening, and could add only seven runs off the 88 balls he faced in the session to crawl to 19 at the break.
Two full days have been washed out and the final will extend into the reserve day on Wednesday.
India's Ishant Sharma reacts after finishing bowling an over delivery during the fifth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match between New Zealand and India, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, England, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP PhotoIan Walton)
Shami struck twice when Ross Taylor was well caught on 11 in the covers by Shubman Gill, and he clean bowled BJ Watling -- playing in his last test -- for 1 with a delivery that darted away from the right-hander.
In between, Henry Nicholls struggled to reach 7 from 23 deliveries before edging Sharma to second slip.
All three fast bowlers beat Williamson several times but the skipper continued to resist.
India's Ishant Sharma reacts after bowling a delivery during the fifth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match between New Zealand and India, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, England, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP PhotoIan Walton)
Williamson survived a close lbw television referral off Shami after lunch. Shami was as effective with the second new ball as he was before lunch.
Williamson overhauled India’s 217 with an exquisite cover driven boundary off Shami before he played a rare false shot and was caught by his counterpart Virat Kohli.
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Fans wait for the play to start on the fifth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match between New Zealand and India, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, England, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP PhotoIan Walton)
New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson, left, looks on as India's Ishant Sharma, right, bowls a delivery during the fifth day of the World Test Championship final cricket match between New Zealand and India, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, England, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP PhotoIan Walton)