India strike back on day 2 of 2nd test against New Zealand

KOLKATA, India (AP) India struck early blows with the ball on day two of the second test against New Zealand, reducing the visitors to 21-2 at lunch on Saturday in reply to the host's first innings of 316.

From its overnight score of 239-7, Wriddhiman Saha (54 not out) struck an aggressive third test fifty to help India reach 316 in 104.5 overs and wrest the initiative from New Zealand. He put on 41 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (14) for the eighth wicket and a further 35 runs for the final wicket with his Bengal teammate Mohammed Shami (14).

Neil Wagner (2-57), Mitchell Santner (1-83) and Trent Boult (2-46) were the wicket-takers for the Black Caps in the session.

The visitors then lost both openers in under 30 minutes' play before the break. Shami (1-4) trapped Tom Latham lbw for one, and then Martin Guptill (13) deflected a Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-13) delivery off his elbow onto the stumps.

Henry Nicholls on one and Ross Taylor (two not out) were the unbeaten batsmen at lunch.