India post 358/3 at lunch on Day 2 vs New Zealand

Skipper Virat Kohli (149 not out) and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (124 not out) helped India reach 358 for three at lunch on the second day of the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

Ajinkya Rahane (124) and Kohli (149) were at the crease when umpires called for the break.

Kohli struck 15 fours off 272 balls, while Rahane's slammed 11 boundaries and three sixes in his 254-ball inning.

Resuming the day at 267, both batsmen started the proceeding on a good note by playing sensibly. They made 91 runs before lunch to get India cross 300-run mark.

There was a period when pacer Matt Henry tested Rahane with short balls, but the Mumbai batsman showed his class and maintained his calmness to reach his personal milestone.

Earlier, Kohli ended his brief spell of drought of big runs with a brilliant unbeaten century to guide India to 267/3 at stumps on Saturday.

Kohli, who last scored a century against the West Indies in Antigua, held his composure to thwart the Kiwi attack and bring up his 13th ton, which incidentally is the first century of the ongoing series from either side.

The 27-year-old got ample support from Rahane (79 not out), who became the 36th Indian batsman to cross the milestone of 2,000 Test runs during the innings.

Brief Scores:

India 1st Innings: India 358/3 in 117 overs (Virat Kohli 149 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 124 not out).

--IANS

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