India would have bowled out New Zealand for a lot less than 192 on day one of the 2nd Test had they not gifted Kiwi top-scorer Kane Williamson two lives, dismissing him twice off no-balls
Kiwi middle-order batsman Kane Williamson has been a thorn in Team India’s side throughout the New Zealand tour till now and the Gods seemed to be favouring him on Friday as well. The in-form batsman was the proverbial cat with nine lives on Friday as he was gifted two lives, when caught off no-balls while his individual score was 15 and 23.
Williamson top scored for New Zealand with 47 before being dismissed by Mohammed Shami with a full delivery that moved away enough to induce an edge and carry safely into the slips, leaving the Black Caps in shambles at 133 for 7.
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Ishant Sharma (left) is ecstatic after getting Kane Williamson's wicket , but the New Zealand batsman was given not out since it was a no-ball during the 2nd Test match between New Zealand and India in Wellington at the Basin Reserve on Friday. Pic/AFP
Zaheer Khan, who went wicketless in the first innings, had Williamson caught behind off on the last ball before lunch. But, unfortunately it turned out to be a no-ball.
Williamson then got another life shortly after the break when he was caught at short leg off Ishant Sharma but the umpire confirmed that it was again a no-ball.
Williamson who scored a hundred in the first Test to go with five consecutive fifties in the preceding one-day series, finally fell in 43rd over of the innings, which lasted only 52.5 overs.
Williamson (whose previous scores are 71, 77, 65, 60, 88 and 113 in the first Test) was given out twice to close-in catches, only to be recalled after umpires Steve Davis and Richard Kettleborough, asked the third umpire to check for no ball.
On both occasions, the first when New Zealand were 50-4 in the final over before lunch and the second with the Kiwis at 87-6, the bowlers' heels were just over the line and he was recalled.
"It was nice to have some luck but it didn't make the wicket any flatter," Williamson said when asked about his luck.
"Spending more time out there meant it was as hard as for anyone else out there. You never felt in but it's nice to have a bit of luck going your way. It probably shows that you should keep your foot behind the line a little bit," he said.
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