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Day 2 Update: India Strike Back, but New Zealand Still in Contention

India's bowlers led by Ravindra Jadeja (4-52) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3-63) showed impressive form to contain New Zealand to 171 for 9, a lead of 143, at the end of day two. India will see this as a marginal advantage, given the unpredictable nature of the surface.

A Day of Turnarounds

New Zealand's struggles began early, with Will Young's impressive 51 being the only silver lining. However, the tourists struggled to build on their early wickets, and eventually succumbed to India's bowling onslaught. Young's partnership with Daryl Mitchell (21) and Devon Conway (22) faltered, and the team's woes were compounded when Conway was caught off a Sharp spinning off break.

Jadeja and Ashwin's Dominance

Jadeja took center stage with a menacing spell of 4-52, slicing through the New Zealand lower order with ease. Ashwin, too, contributed to India's success, picking 3-63. New Zealand's lead, though significant, could still prove challenging to chase.

Low Points for India

India's batting unit, except for a 96-run stand between Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60), struggled to stay afloat. Ajaz Patel's spell of 5-103 was instrumental in India's first innings collapse, and his dominance continued on the second day. The visitors will need to bolster their batting to stay in the game.