Virat Kohli and India find sense of resolve to set the tone in World Test Championship final

SAM DALLING AT THE AGEAS BOWL: It was not Kohli sparkling at his glorious best. But, leading his country in a Test match for a record-breaking 61st time (his predecessor, MS Dhoni, did 60), Kohli's unbeaten 44 helped India close in a strong position

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Southampton (second day of five): India 146-3 vs New Zealand

Scorecard

Test cricket, by definition, is meant to be testing. And for India’s top order, day two of this inaugural World Test Championship showpiece certainly was.

Sporting finals are often derided for being drab, the usual verve and swagger buried beneath a desperate desire not to lose.  

That was, despite a first glance at the scorecard suggesting otherwise, not the case here. In the toughest of batting conditions, on the biggest of occasions,  India’s biggest star once again shone brightest.

It was not Virat Kohli sparkling at his glorious best. But, leading his country in a Test match for a record-breaking 61st time (his predecessor, MS Dhoni, did 60), Kohli’s unbeaten 44 helped India close in a strong position.

Two balls shy of 65 overs, a fourth departure for bad light in a two-hour spell proved terminal. England’s match with Pakistan last August sprung immediately to mind. Played on this ground, standing umpire in this match Michael Gough and TV umpire Richard Kettleborough came in for fierce criticism.

It is not difficult to have some sympathy for the officials. It is an impossible situation and shift must come from above. Yes, safety and fairness must come first, but if the red ball is an issue then that needs looking at. Was it dangerous, as was stipulated? Or were conditions simply not ideal? To the naked eye it was distinctly dark grey but there were two set batters at the crease in little trouble. The umpires would have been praying for the promised deluge but by 6pm it hadn’t come.  

However, focus should be on the two-thirds of a day of high-quality Test cricket. For in the context of the match, Kohli’s runs are worth double. Anything north of 250 for India is likely to be a decent opening bid, assuming all other things remain equal.  

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India, thanks to Virat Kohli's unbeaten 44, reached 146 for 3 on day two

And in Ajinkya Rahane, unbeaten on 29, the skipper found a familiar foil. The pair enjoy each other’s company and will resume their unbroken 58-run fourth-wicket stand on Sunday, looking to boost their average partnership of 61. Should they reach their 11th century partnership in Test cricket, 300-plus may well be on.  

Even in the face of some fine afternoon bowling - Tim Southee beating the bat four times in the 58th over the prime example – they remained unflustered. Remarkable when you consider neither had faced the red ball in the middle, competitively, for 106 days. 

Of the two, Rahane was the slight aggressor, pulling Southee authoritatively for four and pushing Neil Wagner sweetly through the covers. Kohli was more restrained, although his shot to get off the mark should be clipped and dropped into the world’s cloud network, in much the same way Bono decided was acceptable in 2014.

Again, it was Wagner, and again the ball raced through the covers. It brought the day’s loudest cheer, the decibel levels only matched by the howls of disapproval each time it was determined light was inadequate.  

After that Kohli was more measured than the showman we are used to seeing light up the big stage. But it was completely necessary. A leader, doing just what was required. And to the largely partisan crowd of adoring fans draped in Indian flags and scarves it mattered little. The second time the players scarpered off, Kohli held his hand aloft in apology. He knows what it means supporters, but ultimately he is a winner, and his team was not best served batting on. It matters more that he is at the crease on Sunday.  

The 4,000 lucky ticket holders passing through the gates earlier were equal parts delighted and relieved to hear play would start on time.

Had spectators closed their eyes, it could easily have been the County Championship’s opening rounds: a nip in the air, grey clouds looming like shoppers who have spotted a well-stocked reduced aisle, and floodlights beaming. It was little surprise Kane Williamson invited India to do their worst. 

But it was not the start New Zealand had anticipated. So clinical against England, their attack initially struggled for accuracy. Perhaps it was the added pressure of expectation, given the conditions were those in which seamers are supposed to thrive.  Inconsistency of line and length enabled Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to set about their work in relative comfort, the main danger coming when the latter almost ran himself out before scoring. Gill was a tad fortunate Wagner swooping from square leg was left-handed as he scrambled to make his ground at the non-striker’s end.  

After 10 overs India had reached 37 for 0. Noticeably both openers were not afraid to use their feet in an attempt to negate the swing, cutting and pulling merrily whenever the bowler’s dropped short. England, take note. 

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This match is destined to go into its reserve day on Tuesday

An hour in and New Zealand found their rhythm, largely thanks to Kyle Jamieson. His second ball was overpitched, and Gill presented a straight bat to drive straight. From there, though, Jamieson was as frugal as he was fantastic. His next 40 balls cost just six runs. Self-confessed to not be a ‘stats man’, even he would have raised a smile. One delivery rose sharply to strike Gill on the helmet, and shortly afterwards he got enough movement to find Sharma’s outside edge. Southee grabbed, tumbling low to his right at third slip.

After Jamieson, Wagner arrived and it took just three deliveries for the impact man to have an impact as Gill gave BJ Watling catching practice. Williamson then sprung a surprise post lunch, thrusting the ball to Colin de Grandhomme, who had looked out of sorts in his opening spell. It seemed odd at first sight, but De Grandhomme had snared Kolhi cheaply at the Hagley Oval last February and Williamson was keen to take advantage of English conditions. The mulleted medium-pacer would not look out of place on the county circuit and his five overs cost just three runs. That included 19 consecutive dot balls at Kohli and a huge leg-before shout.  

Similar patience was required from Cheteshwar Pujara as 35 deliveries came and went, before a cut off Wagner raced to the boundary. He doubled up off the next ball he faced, pushing gracefully through the covers as Wagner overcompensated. For his troubles, Purjara was then hurried through a pull shot and struck on the grill.  

Did that soften him up? Who knows... but Trent Boult returned to trap him lbw. The batter was not convinced and wanted to review. Kohli told him otherwise and off he went. DRS showed three reds.  

By the end of the over, 88 for 3 could have been 91 for 4. Boult was adamant Kohli had tickled one to Watling, flicking to leg, but while Williamson dithered the sands of time ran out. That was that. Except it wasn’t. The umpires came together and, following a brief discussion, went upstairs. Was it an umpire’s review? Umpire Illingworth had, away from the camera’s glare, soft-signaled out and wanted to check whether the ball carried. Kohli was confused and calmly queried what was going on. In the end it was academic: once a review is under way, everything gets checked. Hot Spot showed nothing sinister and ultimately the right decision was reached.   

From there, the odd false shot aside - Kohli flashing at one before admonishing himself off Wagner – there was little by way of danger. New Zealand bowled parsimoniously but it was chanceless. Midway through the 57th over the umpires determined light was sub-optimal and off the players trotted to a chorus of boos. On and off they waltzed a while before finally the day’s last dance came shortly before 5pm. Officially the reserve day cannot be taken until Tuesday but it is already a virtual certainty.

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