Cricket

1st Test, Day 2: Debutant Grandhomme puts Black Caps in strong position against Pakistan

[caption id="attachment_27858" align="alignnone" width="580"]Cplin-Grandhomme Debutant Colin de Grandhomme took 6/41 to help Kiwis bowl out Pakistan for 133 runs on Day 2 of the first test at Hagley Oval . Image Source: twitter[/caption]

Internet Desk: A superb debut from Colin Grandhomme has put New Zealand in a strong position against Pakistan after Day 2 of the first test match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The all- rounder from Auckland took 6/41 to leave the Pakistan batting in tatters.

Another debutant Jeet Raval then shined with the bat for the hosts stroking a half century (55*) on debut as the hosts reached 104/3 at stumps in reply.

It was the best debut by a Kiwi bowler since Doug Bracewell, in 2011.

Sohail Khan was de Grandhomme's fifth scalp, when he was caught by a diving Tom Latham at mid-wicket late in the second session.

He then nicked out No 11 Rahat Ali for a duck to break Moir's 65-year-old record.

De Grandhomme said he didn't realise he had broken the record at the time, and it was only when somebody mentioned it in the changing room during the tea break that he became aware of the milestone.

The Zimbabwe-born all-rounder admitted to being "quite nervy and emotional" during the anthems, but that eased after he got through his first over.

De Grandhomme​ snared three of New Zealand's four opening-session wickets, as the visitors limped into the lunch break at 88-4 in 34 overs.

His pre-lunch wickets included the crucial scalp of veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan for two.

Younis' wicket - a sloppy drive which resulted in a regulation catch for Ross Taylor at first slip - restricted the visitors to 56-4.

He broke Pakistan's opening partnership with a lovely delivery to opener Azhar Ali inside the first hour of play, in what is effectively the first day of the match after rain washed out play on Thursday.

De Grandhomme, who was picked in the side over Jimmy Neesham, got a ball to nag off the seam and slide through Ali's gate, bowling the opener for 15.

Most of the Pakistani batsmen lacked patience and were guilty of throwing their wickets away through loose shots.

Captain Misbah ul-Haq's 31 from 108 balls was the only innings of substance by a Pakistan player.

The Black Caps too had a shaky start after tea, losing opener Latham (one), Williamson (four) and Taylor (11) cheaply.

Taylor, who has struggled for runs recently, made a solid enough start before he was stranded down the leg-side off Rahat Ali's bowling.

Debutant Raval, who earlier took three catches at second-slip, and Cantabrian Nicholls steadied the ship with an unbeaten 64-run partnership.

Raval, who replaced Guptill showed real poise in his innings of 55 runs sofar. He was patient and disciplined in his shot selection, and showed his class with a couple of glorious drives to the boundary.

 

 

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