Exciting Match Recap: Washington Sundar’s Spectacular Seven-Wicket Haul Rocks Pune Test
Exciting Match Recap: Washington Sundar's Spectacular Seven-Wicket Haul Rocks Pune Test.
Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar delivered a remarkable performance on Thursday, taking seven wickets in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. He bowled 23.1 overs, allowing 59 runs, and helped dismiss the Kiwis for 259 in their first innings. Despite initial doubts from spectators about his selection over Kuldeep Yadav, Sundar justified the team’s decision with his career-best figures in just his fifth Test. This match marked his return to the playing XI after nearly three and a half years, with his last appearance being in March 2021 against England in Ahmedabad.
New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for just 62 runs, with Devon Conway scoring 76 and Rachin Ravindra making 65 after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Washington Sundar’s previous best bowling figures were 3 for 89 against Australia in Brisbane in 2021. The 25-year-old bowler claimed his final wicket by getting Tim Southee out in the last session and took his first wicket by bowling out Ravindra, ending a crucial 59-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell.
Conway reached his 11th Test fifty shortly after lunch, and he and Ravindra built a 62-run partnership, resisting India’s bowling attack.
Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets before lunch and dismissed Conway with a delivery that turned sharply from outside off-stump, surpassing Nathan Lyon’s total of 530 wickets to become the seventh leading Test bowler. Tom Latham and Conway started their innings slowly but quickly picked up the pace with multiple boundaries against the fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. Spin was introduced early, and Ashwin trapped Latham LBW for 15 on his fifth ball.
After winning the first Test, New Zealand aims to secure the three-match series. Their eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru was their third Test win in India, but they are looking for their first series win in the country since 1988.
Brief scores: New Zealand 259 all out in 79.1 overs (Devon Conway 76, Rachin Ravindra 65, Washington Sundar 7/59, R Ashwin 3/64).
