1st Test: India fight back; Nz 216-5 at close on Day 2

After a long toil of 20 overs, Ashwin finally gets his name in the wickets column.

He gets the flighted delivery to turn sharply and also bounce a bit extra as Nicholls defends but gets the edge and is caught at second slip by Kohli for 17.

India keep taking wickets at regular intervals to keep themselves in the hunt as New Zealand are reduced to 207 for five in 70 overs, for an overall lead of 42 runs.

Ishant is back into the attack. Watling plays four dot balls in a row before he takes a single to fine leg.

The last ball is short and wide as Colin de Grandhomme slashes it through the off-side to get off the mark with a boundary.

Bumrah is called back into the attack to replace Ashwin. Watling edges the first ball past the slips for a four before the umpires check for light.

The umpires take the players off the field as the second's day play is called off.

New Zealand finish Day 2 on 216 for five in 71.1 overs, with an overall lead of 51 runs.

Watling is unbeaten on 14, while de Grandhomme is on four.

Nicholls sweeps Ashwin fine on the leg side for a single and Watling picks one in the covers.

Another sweep from Nicholls to fine leg for a run before Watling blocks the last two balls.

The final drinks of the day in an extended post-tea session with India's over rate quite slow, with another 16 overs left in the day.

Shami overpitches as Nicholls flicks it through midwicket for a four and then defends the rest of the over.

In the next over, the left-hander flicks Ashwin through midwicket for two runs as the off-spinner bowls another tight over, having given away just 55 runs from 20 overs.

Shami overpitches as Nicholls hits back on the bounce over the bowler for a four and then takes one on the leg side.

Watling then glances the third ball to fine leg for a single as New Zealand go past the 200-run mark, in the 69th over.

Nicholls looking to just bat cautiously and spend time at the wicket as he watchfully plays out a maiden over from Bumrah.

In the next over, Ashwin opens up Williamson with one that goes straight on as he gets a thick outside edge which stays low and he then takes one to mid-off.

Shami comes back into the attack and strikes with the big wicket of Williamson.

Williamson tries to drive Shami on the up through the covers but substitute Ravindra Jadeja comes up with a good sharp low catch.

The New Zealand captain misses out on a well-deserved as he walks back for 89, having hit 11 fours in his 153-ball knock.

Ashwin continues as Nicholls picks a single to square leg off the third ball and and BJ Watling turns the last ball on the leg side for one, to get off the mark.

Nicholls looking to just bat cautiously and spend time at the wicket as he watchfully plays out a maiden over from Bumrah.

In the next over, Ashwin opens up Williamson with one that goes straight on as he gets a thick outside edge which stays low and he then takes one to mid-off.

Shami comes back into the attack and strikes with the big wicket of Williamson.

Bumrah is back into the attack. Williamson turns the first ball into the leg side for a single, while a watchful Nicholls sees out the rest of the over.

India have managed to bowl together a few tight overs and look to build some pressure, but with Williamson (79) out in the middle nothing will bother New Zealand at the moment.

Another tidy over from Ashwin as he gives away just a single in his 15th over.

Just seven runs have come from the last six overs, while New Zealand have also lost the wicket of Taylor in the period.

Bumrah drifts on the pads as Williamson taps it on the leg side for one and Nicholls does the same three balls later.

Bumrah then stays on the pads again as Williamson glances it fine for a four.

Ashwin gives it some flight as Nicholls defends watchfully before he gets a single in the covers.

New Zealand are 180 for three in 60 overs, with an overall lead of 15 runs.

Williamson is unbeaten on 84 from 145 balls, with 11 fours, while Nicholls is on four from 36 balls.

Against the run of play, India strike with the wicket of Taylor. Ishant gets the ball to bounce more than expected as Taylor gets hit on the gloves and is caught by Pujara on the leg side for 44.

Henry Nicholls is beaten first ball by a full delivery which moves away to go past the edge, before he plays out the rest of the over.

Ashwin is back into the attack. A watchful Williamson blocks the first three balls and then takes a single on the leg side and Nicholls plays out the last two balls.

Ishant drifts wide as Williamson steers it to deep point for one and Nicholls miscues a length ball over the bowler for two runs to get off the mark.

Ishant then gets the ball to move away as left-hander Nicholls is beaten.

In the next over, Nicholls is beaten again as Ashwin gets some sharp turn to go past the edge before he defends the last four balls.

Ishant is back into the attack. Taylor nudges the second ball to fine leg for one and Williamson plays out the rest of the over with caution.

In the next over, Bumrah gets the ball to come in sharply as Taylor is hit on the pads but the leg before shout is turned down, with the impact quite high.

Another good delivery from Bumrah as Taylor looks to slash it but gets a thick inside edge past the wicketkeeper for a four.

Taylor steers the next ball past point for two runs and is beaten next ball by the delivery moving away as New Zealand reach 159 for two in 50 overs.

The loose deliveries are coming quite regularly. This time Williamson takes toll of a short wide delivery from Ishant slashing it over point for a four.

Ishant then gets the ball to bounce more than expected as Williamson is hit on the gloves as he tries to defend and then takes a single to mid-on.

In the next over, Williamson clips Bumrah through square leg for two runs to help New Zealand take the lead as they reach 166 for two in 52 overs.

Bumrah is back into the attack. Williamson clips the second ball to square leg for one and Taylor takes one off an inside edge before the former defends the last two balls.

In the next over, Taylor drives a wide half-volley from Shami through the covers, hitting it uppishly, for a four.

He tries to play another cover drive later in the over but this time he is beaten on the outside edge.

In the next over, Williamson plays another cracking drive through the covers for a four to take New Zealand past the 150-run mark, in the 48th over.

Williamson has eased his way to 67, while Taylor has made 37 with the duo putting on 79 runs for the third wicket so far.

Shami bowls a wide half-volley as Williamson drills it through the covers for a four before defending the rest of the over as the pacer comes close to the stumps.

Taylor has progressed well during his innings. He takes a single off Ashwin on the leg side to take his score to 28.

Ashwin drops short as Williamson is able to punch it off the backfoot through the covers for a four and then takes one as the runs keep coming at a good rate for the hosts.

In the next over, Shami drifts on the pads as Williamson nudges it on the leg side for a single.

The next ball is again on the pads as Taylor glances it fine for a four before he is beaten outside the off-stump.

Ashwin to start off with the ball for India after the tea break. Williamson drives the second ball to mid-off for a single and Taylor sweeps the fifth ball fine on the leg side for a four.

Shami from the other end. He opts to bowl full as Williamson is quite sure with his shot selection and prefers to play out a maiden over.

In the next over, Williamson skips down the track and lofts Ashwin over midwicket for a four to bring up his fifty in some style, from 93 balls.

He then takes a single into the covers off the fifth ball.

New Zealand were sitting in control on 116 for two in their first innings at tea in reply to India's total of 165 on the second day of the opening Test in Wellington, on Saturday.

A good over from Ashwin as Taylor plays out a maiden over, blocking six balls in a row.

Bumrah bowls it full as Williamson defends solidly and then takes a single to mid-off before Taylor plays out the last two balls.

Williamson keeping out Ashwin quite nicely. He defends the first ball before nudging the next to midwicket for a single and the last ball goes off Taylor's pads for a leg bye as he comes forward to defend.

Bumrah gifts New Zealand five wides as he bowls a short ball which flies high over Taylor and also goes over the wicketkeeper.

He over compensates by bowling a wide half-volley as Taylor drives it through the covers in some style for a four to end the session in some style.

At tea on Day 2, New Zealand are firmly in control on 116 for two in 39 overs, trailing India by only 49 runs.

Williamson has eased his way to 46 from 84 balls, while Taylor has made 22 from 40 balls.

Earlier,India were bowled out for 165 in 68.1 overs in their first innings.India lasted just 13.1 overs on the second day, losing five wickets for 43 runs.

Taylor looking to be positive. He tries to ramp a short ball from Ishant over the slip but the ball hits the back of the bat and goes over the wicketkeeper for a four.

He then glances the next ball through fine leg for a single and Williamson picks one off the last ball.

Ashwin gets some sharp turn as Williamson is beaten on the defence but again the umpire turns down the leg before shout.

The next ball is however short as Williamson slaps it through the covers for three runs followed by singles off the next two as the Kiwis keep the scoreboard ticking along.

Bumrah is back into the attack. He beats Williamson outside the off-stump as the New Zealand skipper pokes away from his body before he realises his mistakes and offers no shot to the next two balls and defends the last ball.

Ashwin continues as tea interval approaches. Taylor clips the first ball to long-on for a single and Williamson turns the fourth ball to midwicket for one.

Bumrah gives some width as Williamson slaps it behind point for a four to take New Zealand past 100 and then hits the last ball through the same region for two runs.

Ashwin gives it some air as Taylor looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge to thirdman for two runs.

Taylor defends the next few balls before taking a single on the leg side and Williamson picks one off the last ball.

Ishant bowls a tight over, sending down a maiden over to Kiwi captain Williamson.

Ashwin in midst of a good spell. He is bowling in the right channel as Taylor comes forward to defend before he surprises everyone by slog sweeping Ashwin for a six over midwicket.

Taylor looking to disrupt Ashwin's rhythm by playing the sweep as he did during the limited overs matches against Chahal and Kuldeep.

Ashwin then has a huge shout for leg before wicket turned down as Taylor comes forward to defend but is hit on the pads and India decide against the review.

He then keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

Ashwin nearly gets the wicket of Blundell. The right-hander is beaten through the gate by a flighted delivery from Ashwin, which turns sharply from the rough patches and he is lucky that it bounces over the stumps.

Good bowling from Ashwin as he sticks to a good line outside the off-stump forcing Williamson to defend and he then takes a single off the last ball.

Ishant comes back into the attack and he makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Blundell.

The right-hander it tentative to get forward to a full delivery which jags in sharply and crashes into the stumps to bowl him for 30.

A huge ovation greets Ross Taylor as he walks out to bat in his 100th Test match.

He gets off the mark with a single to fine leg off the last ball.

Spin introduced as Ravichandran Ashwin is introduced into the attack in the 22nd over.

The first ball is blocked on the leg side by Williamson before he clips the next to midwicket for one.

A single off the next ball to Blundell on the leg side before Williamson hits the fourth ball through the covers for three runs.

In the next over, Shami drops short as Williamson punches it behind point for three runs.

The Indian fast bowlers have lacked the consistency, bowling short far too often.

Southee showed the perfect length to bowl on this pitch as he got Prithvi Shaw and Ashwin bowled with full deliveries that swung away late.

Shami gets it a bit fuller and around the off-stump as Blundell plays out the rest of the over.

Ashwin continues after the drinks break. He starts with two full deliveries as Williamson carefully defends the first two balls and then clips a slightly short ball to midwicket for one.

Blundell comes forward to defend the last ball as it spins sharply and hits him on the pads.

Williamson looking quite good. Shami overpitches on the stumps as the New Zealand captain clips it through midwicket for two runs.

The next ball is again a half-volley as Williamson plays a beautiful straight drive down the ground past mid-off for a four.

Williamson has eased his way to 29 from 44 balls, while Blundell has made 30 from 75 balls to take New Zealand to 70 for one in 25 overs.

Blundell growing in confidence with time spent at the crease. He punches Shami off the backfoot through the covers for a couple and then pulls a short ball through midwicket for a four before keeping strike with a single from the last ball.

In the next over, Bumrah bowls a half-tracker as Williamson slaps it through his favoured cover region for a four.

A full wide delivery from Bumrah is then driven in some style through the covers by Williamson for a four to take New Zealand past the 50-run mark, in the 20th over.

Bumrah gets the ball to move away late as Blundell is beaten trying to defend before he picks a single on the leg side.

Williamson then pushes the next ball into the covers for another run as the two batsmen continue to push New Zealand forward.

Bumrah is back into the attack as he replaces Shami. He bowls a tidy over to Blundell, who defends watchfully to play out a maiden over from the fast bowler.

Change of ends for Shami as he takes over from Ishant. He starts his new spell with a short wide delivery which Williamson hits past point for a four.

Shami then goes a bit fuller as he defends the remaining five deliveries on the off-side.

New Zealand have done well to keep out the good deliveries and make most of the loose balls by scoring boundaries.

In the next over, Blundell picks Bumrah on the leg side for one before Williamson again shows some solid defence to keep out the fast bowler.

Blundell gets the leading edge as he tries to clip Shami on the leg side but again it falls safely on the off-side.

He then taps the next ball on the leg side for a single before Williamson gets an inside edge on to the pads and leaves the last ball to end a good over from Shami.

Blundell is quite watchful as he carefully plays out the over from Ishant, who sticks to a good line just outside the off-stump.

In the next over, Williamson steers a wide delivery from Shami past point for two runs before he also plays out the rest of the over with caution.

Ishant gets the ball to come in as Blundell blocks it on the leg side and then defends the next with a straight bat.

Ishant overpitches as Blundell reaches out and drives it through the covers for three runs.

A lucky break for India as Latham is caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Pant off Ishant for 11.

That was a nothing delivery, sliding down the leg side as Latham tried to glance it to fine leg but it went off the shoulder of the bat and wicketkeeper Pant pouched it easily.

Kane Williamson gets hit on the fingers off the first ball trying to nudge a short rising delivery on the leg side from Ishant.

The last three balls are pitched up as Williamson carefully blocks it out.

Ishant to resume proceedings with the ball for India after lunch.

Blundell defends the first ball before he drives the next through the covers for a four. Ishant gets the next ball to come in sharply as it goes through the gap between bat and pad but over the stumps as Blundell is beaten.

He then taps the next ball on the leg side for one and Latham plays out the last two balls.

Mohammed Shami from the other end. The first ball hits Blundell on the pads but the leg before shout is turned down before he defends the next few balls with caution.

Shami drops short as Blundell is quick to rock on the backfoot as he pulls it over midwicket for a four and then blocks the last ball on the off-side.

Ishant gets the ball to come in sharply to right-hander Blundell, who looks to clip it on the leg side but is beaten before he defends the next.

Another sharp incoming delivery as Blundell again misses the clip and is hit on the thigh pad before he leaves the last ball to end a maiden over.

Bumrah keeping it full again as Latham flicks it through midwicket for three runs.

The next ball is again full as Blundell plays from the crease and is hit on the pads but the big shout for LBW is turned down.

India take the review but Blundell has got an inside edge as they lose one of their reviews quite early in the innings.

Blundell then taps the fourth ball on the off-side for a single to get off the mark from the 18th ball he faced.

First change for India as Mohammed Shami comes into the attack, to replace Ishant.

Blundell gets a thick outside edge as he tries to flick a full delivery through the leg side but it flies safely over the slips for a four. The right-hander clips the fourth ball to fine leg for one and Latham plays out the last two balls.

At lunch on Day 2, New Zealand are 17 for no loss in eight overs, with Latham on 11 and Blundell on six.

Earlier, Kyle Jamieson and veteran Tim Southee took four wickets each to knock India out for 165 in their first innings.

Blundell taps a wide delivery from Bumrah on the off-side but offers no shot to the next two before blocking the next and then plays out the last two balls.

Ishant getting a nice angle against the left-hander as Latham is forced to play again, and this time he gets the edge but it falls well short of the slips.

Latham then pushes the fourth ball on the leg side for a single before Blundell keeps out the last two balls.

In the next over, Bumrah tries for the yorker but Latham manages to clip it through square leg for two runs.

Another full delivery as Latham goes for the flick but gets a thick inside edge for two more through square leg.

Jasprit Bumrah to open the bowling for India, who need a few early wickets to get back into the contest.

The task is cut out for Kiwi openers -- Tom Latham and Tom Blundell -- to play out the new ball and lay the foundation for a good first innings total, to make most of their superb showing with the ball.

Bumrah gets the first ball to move sharply as Latham offers no shot and does the same to the next two deliveries.

Latham then clips the fourth ball through square leg for three runs to get New Zealand off the mark before Blundell pokes and is beaten.

Ishant Sharma from the other end. He gets the ball to angle in with the arm before moving away but it is too wide to make Latham play but is beaten two balls later as he tries to drive it through the off-side.

The last ball is closer to the stumps forcing Latham to play but he is beaten again bu some extra bounce.

Shami goes for the pull but gets it off the bottom as it goes towards the slips on the bounce. But he pulls the next ball bang off the middle getting it over square leg for a four.

He tries to smash the next over the off-side but doesn't get it over the top as he collect two runs.

Shami then mishits the next ball trying to smash it over the leg side as it falls safely for a single.

Shami is playing a good hand with the bat, hitting 20 from 17 balls.

In the next over, Shami pushes Jamieson on the off-side for a single before the pacer strikes with the wicket of Ishant.

Ishant hangs his bat out to a wide delivery only to get the edge and is caught behind for five as Jamieson picks his fourth wicket.

Southee ends India's innings in the next innings as Shami miscues another intended big hit and is caught on the off-side after a quickfire 21 from 20 balls.

India are bowled out for 165 in 68.1 overs in their first innings.

Pacers Tim Southee (4-49) and Kyle Jamieson (4-39) did the damage with the ball as they both picked up four wickets each.

For India, Rahane was the top-scorer with 49, while Agarwal (34) was the only other batsman to get above the 30-run mark.

India lasted just 13.1 overs on the second day, losing five wickets for 43 runs.

Shami defends the first two balls from Boult before he tries the pull but misses. The right-hander then flicks a full delivery through midwicket for three runs before Ishant walks across and defends the last ball.

Shami is not content defending. He tries to swing Southee but miscues it to mid-on before he throws his bat at a wide delivery as he gets a thick edge over the gully region for a four.

Shami then skies the ball high as he miscues it trying to hit it over the leg side but New Zealand captain Kane Williamson puts down the easiest of catches at mid-off.

Ishant playing in his own unique style walks across and clips Southee on the leg side for one before Shami drills the next down the ground past mid-on for a four.

Change in the bowling as debutant Kyle Jamieson comes in for Boult. He had a dream start to Test cricket with three wickets on the opening day.

Jamieson gets the short of good length delivery to move away as Ishant is beaten trying to poke away from his body. The pacer is looking to keep it short and pin Ishant to the backfoot before the full delivery comes out as the right-hander is beaten again.

Boult bowls it short on the pads as Rahane nudges it to fine leg for one. A man in place at short leg as Boult bowls a good short ball to Ishant, who somehow fends it uppishly to square leg for a single to get of the mark.

Some width from Boult as Rahane throws his bat and smashes it over the point boundary for a four.

He gets a top edge as he pulls the last ball but it falls well short of the fielder at fine leg to give Rahane the single and the strike for the next over.

Rahane looks to have changed gears. Southee tries the short ball as Rahane goes for the pull but is beaten before he clips the next to deep midwicket for one.

Ishant walks across a long way and manages to defend Southee to square leg and then lofts the fifth ball over midwicket for one, just clearing the man inside the circle.

The last ball is a good bouncer as Rahane decides to sway out of the way.

Ishant shuffling across a long way to Boult as he flicks the pacer through midwicket for two runs. He then does the same, walking across before he blocks a short ball awkwardly and then avoids another bouncer before blocking the last ball.

Southee continues to be among the wickets. This time Rahane is caught behind off an edge after he tried to leave the delivery but ended up getting a thin edge.

Rahane walks back after a battling 46 from 138 balls as India continue to struggle with the bat, losing their eighth wicket with not even 150 on the board.

Mohammed Shami gets off the mark with a single on the leg side before Southee strikes again as Ishant is given out leg before wicket.

Ishant immediately decides to review the decision. There is nothing on the Hotspot and the Snicko shows the spike when the ball is passing the pads and there is no chance of LBW as Ishant survives.

Just one over for Patel as Trent Boult comes in from the other end. Rahane pushes the first ball into the covers for a single before Pant is beaten next ball trying to play away from the body.

The last ball is slightly short as Pant tries to defend but misses and is hit on the box forcing the physio to come out but he is fine to continue as Boult starts off with a maiden.

India lose an early wicket on Day as Pant is run out for 19. Rahane had tapped Southee towards point and started off for a quick single but Pant was unmoved. He made a late call to attempt the single but Patel at point scored the direct hit to run out the left-hander.

Southee then strikes with the very next ball as Ravichandran Ashwin is bowled for a first-ball duck. The full delivery moves away late beating Ashwin all ends up as India lose their seventh wicket.

Ishant Sharma defends the last ball after offering no shot to the previous two to end a very good over for the Kiwis

Spinner Ajaz Patel to start off with the ball on Day 2 for New Zealand on a bright sunny day at Basin Reserve.

The first ball is down the leg side as Rishabh Pant misses out on the pull before he defends the next.

Another block to a full delivery before Pant comes down and lofts Patel over the long-on boundary for a six for the first runs on the second day.

Pant then flicks the fifth ball to deep square leg for one and Ajinkya Rahane defends the last ball on the off-side.

Pacer Tim Southee from the other end. The first ball is down the leg side as Pant tries to nudge it on the leg side but misses before he clips the next but Patel does well at square leg to stop the single.

Southee then gets it on the good line outside the off-stump as Pant defends the next few balls before he gets the last ball through midwicket for two runs.

Welcome to the coverage of Day 2 of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

India's batsmnens struggled on a rain-hit opening day as they were reduced to 122 for five in 55 overs at stumps after they were put into bat in overcast conditions.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane battled hard with 38 not out at the tea break, while Rishabh Pant was on 10 from 37 balls at close after the entire post-tea session was washed out.

New Zealand pace bowler Kyle Jamieson had a dream start to his Test career, picking up 3/38 in 14 overs.

Jamieson, who dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and the world's top-ranked Test batsmen Virat Kohli (two) before lunch, grabbed his third wicket when Hanuma Vihari edged the first ball after the mid-session drinks break to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

India managed only 43 runs in the second session as Rahane played 122 balls, hitting four boundaries on a heavy outfield.

Jamieson also held a steepling catch at fine leg from a mistimed hook shot by opener Mayank Agarwal (34) off Trent Boult, who had dropped a difficult caught and bowled chance on the previous delivery.

Tim Southee had bowled Prithvi Shaw for 16 early in the first session after Kane Williamson had won the toss and chosen to field on a green pitch.

Ross Taylor became the first cricketer to play 100 matches in all three formats and just the fourth New Zealander to achieve the 100-game milestone in Tests.