The New Zealand pacers, led by the relentless William O’Rourke (3/13), exploited the gloomy conditions to the fullest to reduce a clueless India to a disastrous 34 for six at lunchtime after a truncated first session on the second day of the opening Test on Thursday. Rishabh Pant (15, 41b) was in danger after Ravindra Jadeja (0) was sent off just before midday. The first day of the match was canceled due to rain. As the rain stayed away, Rohit Sharma opted to bat under a gray sky and none of the Indian batsmen seemed comfortable, including the skipper himself. He was also the first batsman to walk. After being pushed around for 15 balls, Rohit (2) looked to break free with an expansive attack, but Tim Southee’s shaky seam throw, which cut him back, noticeably disturbed his stumps.

Before we delve into the Indian batsmen’s turmoil, Matt Henry’s opening spell needs to be mentioned in print as the New Zealand pacer gave them no end of trouble.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who stood a foot outside the crease to kill the momentum, was completely at sea against Henry.

There were several play-and-miss opportunities in his innings, as one would expect in these conditions, but the left-hander showed courage to stay in the middle.

Virat Kohli (0) came into the game at the rather unfamiliar No. 3 position but his stay was cut short after nine balls.

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham introduced O’Rourke and the pacer caught the big fish straight away.

Kohli tried to shoot a climbing shot on the outside but he was out of control as the ball bounced off his gloves on the way to Glenn Phillips at leg gully.

Sarfaraz Khan, who came into the XI after a stiff neck forced Shubman Gill to sit out this game, was in no mood to hang around even as the ball was bouncing around.

On the third ball he faced, the Mumbai man tried to hit Henry over the middle of the pitch but Devon Conway took a leap of faith to grab the ball, sending Henry into a fit of laughter.

At 10 for 3, it was even an understatement to say that India were in danger and the home team needed a massive boost from then on.

Perhaps a short break in the rain from 10.27 a.m. to 11.05 a.m. helped India to collect themselves a little.

Pant, dropped by stumper Tom Blundell off O’Rourke on 7, scored India’s first boundary of the day in the fifth ball of the 12th over, a mash through the cover by the same bowler.

But Jaiswal’s patience didn’t pay off (13, 63b) as he fell to O’Rourke while Ajaz Patel took a stunning catch at point after a rasping shot from the batsman.

Dismissals of KL Rahul (0), caught by Blundell on O’Rourke’s leg side, and Jadeja further pushed India to the wall, allowing Pant to restart the rescue mission in the second session.

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