Kolkata : Wriddhiman Saha set his stall out again, unmoved and unbreakable, and a couple of decent partnerships with the tail-enders ensured India would give New Zealand a hefty target to chase in this second Test match in Kolkata. India finished their second innings on 263, thanks to another unbeaten half-century from their ever-impressive wicketkeeper-batsman.
Starting the day on 227/8, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for company, Saha did well to weather the early morning storm, with the India No.10 also doing well with the bat in his hand. Saha and Bhuvneshwar put on 36 hard-fought runs together for the ninth wicket, bulging that lead further.
Another 12 runs were added between Saha and Mohammed Shami, before the latter was caught in the slips off Trent Boult to end India’s innings on 263 in 76.5 overs.
That means New Zealand must score 376 runs in the fourth innings of this Test match at the Eden Gardens if they are to level the series at 1-1. The Kiwis have made a solid start, with Martin Guptill and Tom Latham surviving the new ball assault from Shami and Bhuvneshwar, as well as a few overs from the spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to go into Lunch on 55/0 in 16 overs, still 321 runs short of the target.