New Zealand reply strongly on rain-hit day

Kanpur, India - Tom Latham and captain Kane Williamson hit half centuries

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Tom Latham led a strong reply to take the visitors to 152 for one at stumps against India on a rain-hit second day of the first Test in Kanpur on Friday.
The visitors lost opener Martin Guptill earlier in the day but Williamson and Latham's unbeaten 117-run stand helped them make major inroads into India's first innings total of 318.
At stumps, New Zealand had reduced the deficit to 166 runs, with Williamson unbeaten on 65 and Latham also well set on 56 when rain stopped play after tea to wash out the final session of play.
Williamson survived a scare when a Ravichandran Ashwin ball hit the back of his helmet. The back flaps which provide extra support to the skull fell onto his stumps, but didn't dislodge the bails.
Latham also rode his luck after Ravindra Jadeja got the left-handed batsman caught at short leg, but replays showed the ball hitting the helmet grille of fielder Lokesh Rahul.
The decision was referred to the third umpire who gave Latham not out as according to the rules, external protective gear cannot come into play while taking a catch.
The duo got to their respective fifties soon after, although off-spinner Ashwin and left-arm spinner Jadeja continued to trouble the batsmen.
India's Umesh Yadav remained the only wicket-taker after he trapped Guptill lbw for 21 in the first session of play.
Guptill started with positive intent as he struck three boundaries in his 31-ball stay before being undone by Yadav's pacy, in-swinging delivery.
Earlier overnight batsman Jadeja played a useful 42-run cameo for the hosts, who started the day on 291 for nine.
Jadeja struck seven fours and a six during his unbeaten knock as he entertained the crowd at Kanpur's Green Park.
Medium-pacer Neil Wagner got Yadav caught behind for nine to end up with two wickets in the innings. Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult claimed three apiece.
 

 
Key facts on the three-test series between India and New Zealand, which started in Kanpur on Thursday:

INDIA
Captain: Virat Kohli
Coach: Anil Kumble
Squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli (captain), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
NEW ZEALAND
Captain: Kane Williamson
Coach: Mike Hesson
Squad: Kane Williamson (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling
HEAD TO HEAD:
Total: 54
India wins: 18
New Zealand wins: 10
Draws: 26
In India:
Total matches: 31
India wins: 13
New Zealand wins: 2
Draws: 16
LAST FIVE TESTS:
2014 - Match drawn, Wellington
2014 - New Zealand won by 40 runs, Auckland
2012 - India won by five wickets, Bangalore
2012 - India won by an innings & 115 runs, Hyderabad,
2010 - India won by an innings & 198 runs, Nagpur,
FIXTURES (all start at 0400 GMT):
1st test - Sept. 22-26, Green Park, Kanpur
2nd test - Sept. 30-Oct. 4, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
3rd test - Oct. 8-12, Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore