India pegged back by Kiwi spin in second session

India lost a well-set Cheteshwar Pujara in the post-lunch session and made slow progress to be 148 for three at tea on day one of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Indore.

The home team had progressed from the lunch score of 75/2, thus adding 73 runs in 30 overs in the post lunch period of play.

At the break, captain Virat Kohli (45), who had struck five fours in his 102-ball unconquered knock, was in sight of his first half ton of the series. With him at the crease was Ajinkya Rahane (19) and the two had added 48 runs for the fourth wicket.

The hosts, already 2-0 up in the rubber, lost openers Murali Vijay (10) and Gautam Gambhir (29) in the session before lunch.

Pujara, who looked assured, departed in the first hour of play after lunch to be the third man out and his 41 was inclusive of six hits to the fence in 108 balls.

His exit, with India on 100, brought together Kohli, who looked subdued barring the occasional aggressive shot, and Rahane and they were together at the crease when tea was called.

The hosts made slow progress in the post-tea session and were pegged back by some intelligent bowling on a helpful track by the Kiwi spin duo of Jeetan Patel and Mitchell Santner in overcast conditions.

Both Pujara and Kohli were kept quiet for lengthy spells by the two spinners and Santner also struck a big blow when he sent back the former to nip the third wicket partnership before it assumed bigger proportions.

Assured in his footwork till then, Pujara played slightly inside the line to a ball that was bowled from wide of the crease by Santner and straightened on the batsman to take his off stump.

Kohli, who began in an aggressive manner, also had to be cautious along with Rahane and the team could add just 36 in 15 overs in the first hour of play post lunch.

Earlier, India lost both openers in the pre-lunch session after choosing to bat first.

While Murali Vijay fell to off-spinner Jeetan Patel in the fifth over, Gautam Gambhir started off well and played some audacious shots before going into a defensive mould and falling to left-arm pace bowler Trent Boult in the 20th over.
(REOPENS DEL 12)

India began confidently with the new opening combination of Vijay and the recalled Gambhir, playing his first game since losing his spot after the away defeat to England in 2014, not appearing in any sort of trouble.

Gambhir, playing with a changed and more open stance, began with a rasping square cut four off Matt Henry in the second over while Vijay played a couple of pleasing drives on the off side against left-arm Trent Boult for fours in the next over.

With the pacers not making any impression on the two Indian openers, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson introduced spin by bringing Patel into the attack.

The move paid immediate dividends albeit through a fine, juggling catch by Tim Latham at forward short leg when Vijay played his pet flick off the front foot. Vijay fell for 10, his third successive failure in the series.

Gambhir was joined by man in form Pujara who looked in good touch from the first ball.

Pujara struck Henry for two fours in successive balls, the second one off an edge, to raise the 50 of the innings in the 13th over.