Kanpur Test: Williamson, Latham put Kiwis in command on rain-hit day

Skipper Kane Williamson and opener Tom Latham produced a calm and composed performance as they guided New Zealand to 152-1 before rain curtailed the final session of Day 2 of the opening Test here at the Green Park Stadium on Friday.

In reply to India's first innings score of 318, the visitors lost opener Martin Guptill for 21 runs at the hands of Umesh Yadav.

The tourists then steadied their innings through Williamson (65) and Latham (56), who displayed good techniques against spin and showed solid mental fortitude by sharing an unbeaten 117-run stand for second wicket.

Earlier, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara shared a crucial 112-run stand for opening wicket before all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja contributed significant 40 and 42 respectively to propel their side cross 300-run mark.

For New Zealand, Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers for his figures of three for 57 followed by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner's three for 77.

Neil Wagner, Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig chipped in with a wicket each.