WTC Final: Neil Wagner hits Pujara on the helmet with a nasty bouncer
India and New Zealand are fighting it out in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) Final at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. After losing the toss, India got off to a good start with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill doing well in the first hour adding 62 runs for the opening wicket. However, both of them fell in quick succession and the onus then came on Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli to carry the innings.
The duo did well to survive the tricky phase before lunch and then in the second session, they would’ve hoped to score some runs. But New Zealand have kept it tight since then thanks to Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme who have literally given nothing to the two batsmen. Wagner especially was good with his lines keeping both Pujara and Kohli on their toes.
He is always known to bounce the batsmen out and tried a few at Pujara as well. Interestingly, the latter looked to take the bowler on in the 37th over of the innings and got hit on the helmet. Cheteshwar Pujara wasn’t in an ideal position to shape up for the pull and the ball hit the lid of the helmet with the soft protection on the back fell off.
The physio ran in immediately to check on the batsman according to the protocols. However, India’s number three was back on his feet and solid in his defence again.
First blow for pujara#WTCFinal2021 pic.twitter.com/5bYqE723yl
— nishikant thikekar (@nishikantn) June 19, 2021
Trent Boult pins Pujara in front
Meanwhile, New Zealand have struck a telling blow with Trent Boult striking at the right time for his team. He pinned Cheteshwar Pujara in front of the stumps in the 41st over of the game in the first over of his new spell. Pujara scored only 8 runs off 54 balls with two fours to his name. His wicket left India three down with less than 100 runs on the board.
The Virat Kohli-led side bat deep with Ravindra Jadeja at seven followed by Ravi Ashwin and then the bowlers. India will be hoping to post a decent total on the board to challenge New Zealand in the first innings.
