The final day of the ongoing first Test between India and New Zealand at Green Park in Kanpur witnessed a brilliance in the field by Indian star Shubman Gill. The 22-year-old exhibited acrobatic efforts to take a low diving catch of New Zealand tailender William Somerville.
Somerville, who was sent in as the nightwatchman on Day 4, partnered with opener Tom Latham for an unbeaten 76-run stand-by lunch on the final day to frustrate the Indian bowling attack. The hosts’ bowlers produced some occasional edges, but all kept falling short of fielders due to a relatively slow track at Kanpur’s Green Park.
However, the home team found a breakthrough on the very first ball of the second session, bowled by pacer Umesh Yadav. The right-armer went for a well-directed bouncer from round the wicket as Somerville mistimed a pull.
The top-edge went into the fine-leg region, and for a moment, it looked as if the ball would land safely. However, Gill had some other plans as the dynamic cricketer came running in from the boundary, dived forward and completed a sensational catch.
Here is the video:
This lad Gill is supremely talented#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/g2kjiiayej
— Stone Cold (@StoneCo06301258) November 29, 2021
After 62 overs, the visitors have scored 125/3 with Ross Taylor (2 no) and Kane Williamson (24 no) at the crease. Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who sent back Will Young on Day 4, provided another breakthrough to give some relief to the home team.
Ashwin dismissed the well-set opening batter Latham, who smashed a gritty half-century in New Zealand’s massive chase of 284. In the 55th over of the Black Caps’ second innings, Ashwin went for a quicker delivery that shattered the defences of Latham.