Cheteshwar Pujara drives India's first-innings effort - India v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Kolkata, 1st day

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Cheteshwar Pujara bailed India out of a spot of bother, with an impressive 219-ball 87, after the hosts had lost three-early wickets in the first session of the second Test, against New Zealand, which began in Kolkata on Friday.

Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat on a surface that offered assistance to the bowlers early on. New Zealand, without their talismanic captain Kane Williamson sidelined due to an illness, rattled India's top order.

Matt Henry, on his Test comeback, produced an impressive opening spell; and accounted for Shikhar Dhawan in his first over and Murali Vijay. When Kohli fell for nine, India was in serious trouble at 46 for three.

Pujara stood tall while wickets fell around him. He found an able partner in Ajinkya Rahane and the duo set about rebuilding the innings. The pitch, which had a greenish tinge early in the day, lost its moisture as the day wore on.

Pujara hit eleven fours in his 50 that came from 147 balls. By tea, India had scored 136. The Pujara-Rahane combine added 141 runs for the fourth wicket and the duo looked to guide India to a sizeable first-innings total.

New Zealand failed to pick wickets in the second session, but their bowlers ensured they made scoring difficult and conceded just 79 runs in 31 overs. Pujara, in a bid to push the scoring rate, drove Neil Wagner on the up, and was caught at short cover 13-runs short of a ton. Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin fell cheaply and Rahane, who had battled through most of the day, finally departed for a 157-ball 77. At stumps on the first day, India had managed 239 for 7, with Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha at the crease.

Henry was the pick of New Zealand's bowlers and ended the day with figures of 3 for 35 in 15 overs. "It was nice this morning. I think we bowled really well, asked them a lot of questions, and they batted really well too," Henry said.

"We had a little bit more bounce early on, first session, and after that it did flatten out a bit. The way we bowled, and the plans we had to get them out, the wickets towards the end were crucial."

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