Cricket: Southee hoping for help from new ball

Kohli leads India’s fightback with unbeaten 93; hosts trail by 82 runs.

BANGALORE:

Virat Kohli cracked an impressive unbeaten 93 to lead an Indian recovery on the second day of the second and final Test against New Zealand in Bangalore yesterday.

The 23-year-old hit one six and 12 fours in his second successive Test half-century as the hosts, struggling at 80 for four at one stage, reached 283 for five in their first-innings at stumps in reply to New Zealand's 365. India trail by 82 runs with five wickets in hand.

Suresh Raina hoped MS Dhoni and Kohli can continue the ongoing partnership longer.

"Virat and I had a good partnership and now he and Dhoni are batting,” said Raina. “ Hopefully we can put a lot of runs on the board and the match is going to be interesting in the next three days.”

New Zealand's pacemen bowled well to keep pressure on India, with Tim Southee finishing the day with three for 35 and Doug Bracewell with 2-66.

"We did well to pick up a few wickets but India came back well after lunch as the ball got a bit older," said Southee. "The pitch is pretty good, so I guess now it's an important time for us with the second new ball to see if we can pick up the rest of the wickets." 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2012.