World Test Championship final
SOUTHAMPTON: Virat Kohli led a resolute batting effort by India against a high-quality New Zealand attack in testing conditions before bad light brought an end to Day 2 of the World Test Championship final, at The Hampshire Bowl in Southampton, on Saturday.
Rohit Sharma (34 off 68) and Shubman Gill (28 off 64), opening for the first time in England, showed remarkable application against the moving ball to share a 62-run stand before Kohli (44 not out off 124 balls) came into his own with a steely knock to guide India to 146 for 3 at stumps on a start-stop second day.
The skipper received good support from Ajinkya Rahane (29 not out off 79 balls) in the final session, when bad light stopped play twice before the umpires called it a day.
Just 64.4 overs were bowled on Saturday, including only 9.1 in the final session. The opening day was washed out.
As expected, Kohli was ready for the challenge posed by an all-seam attack on an overcast day. He played late and close to his body, was happy to leave balls outside the off stump and cashed in on the slightest of scoring opportunities.
Opening for the first time in England, Rohit (34 off 68) and Gill (28 off 64) came into the middle with a clear gameplan and applied themselves brilliantly against the potent pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
As he often does, Rohit batted with an open stance to negate left-arm pacer Boult's trademark in-swingers while Gill stood outside his crease to tackle Southee's out-swingers. There were moments when Gill was not afraid to come down the track.
Gill, who had played the short ball extremely well in his debut series in Australia, pulled Boult off the front foot for India's first boundary of the final.
They did well to withstand an initial swing onslaught with disciplined batting before New Zealand's pacers reduced India to 69 for 2 by lunch.
India decided to go in with the playing eleven they announced two days back despite a change in conditions. Agencies
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