Recap: New Zealand tour of India -- Part II

Tags: New Zealand tour of India, 2016, India Vs New Zealand 1st Test at Kanpur, Sep 22-26, 2016, India, New Zealand, Test Series

Published on: Sep 21, 2016

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

As India and New Zealand take on each other in the first Test of a new tour on Thursday, we look back at New Zealand's previous tour to India. In our second and final part, we look at New Zealand's two-Test tour of India in 2012

As India and New Zealand take on each other in the first Test of a new tour on Thursday, we look back at New Zealand's previous tour to India. In our second and final part, we look at New Zealand's two-Test tour of India in 2012, which the hosts won 2-0.

First Test: The opening Test of the series was played at Hyderabad (Deccan) from August 23-26. After winning the toss, and deciding to bat first, they posted an impressive 438 on the board. Pujara, who was then in the form of his life, led the charge with the bat, making a superlative 159. Other contributions came from MS Dhoni 73, Virat Kohli 58 and Virender Sehwag 47. Jeetan Patel and Trent Boult claimed four and three wickets for the Kiwis respectively.

In response, the entire New Zealand team managed only as much as Pujara -- 159. The spinners ran through the Kiwis, with Ravichandran Ashwin finishing with six wickets, and Pragyan Ojha chipping in with three. James Franklin top scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 43 while Kane Williamson made 32.

New Zealand were made to follow on, and crumbled again, managing only 164. The spin duo again stood out, Ashwin claiming 6 for 54 and Ojha three for 48. Williamson scored a fifty for the visitors while Brendon McCullum chipped in with 42, but the rest struggled. India won the Test by an innings and 115 runs. Ashwin was the man of the match for his stupendous bowling effort.

2nd Test: The second and final Test of the series was played at Bangalore from August 31-September 3. New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat, after which they posted a challenging 365 on the board. Skipper Ross Taylor made 113 while Kruger van Wyk made 71. Martin Guptill also made a fifty at the top. For India, Ojha did the star turn this time with 5 for 99.

India responded with 353. Virat Kohli was the key performer with 103. Suresh Raina and Dhoni made fifties after Sehwag again got them off to a quick start. Tim Southee was brilliant for New Zealand with 7 for 64.

India did well in the second innings to restrict the Kiwis to 248. Ashwin again stood out with 5 for 69. Franklin's 41 was the top score for the Kiwis.

India had to chase a challenging 261 to win, and did so with good contributions all round. Kohli and Dhoni made 51 and 48 not out. Pujara scored 48, and Sehwag 38. Kohli was man of the match and and Ashwin man of series, and India swept the series 2-0.

--By A Cricket Analyst

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