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Ravindra Jadeja Shares His Thought on the Scintillating Catch
By Shruti - Mar 2, 2020 6:46 pm
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Although India lost the second Test against New Zealand, as well as the series by 0-2, it was Ravindra Jadeja whose stunning catch became the highlight at tea on day two of the second Test at the Hagley Oval on Sunday as India bundled New Zealand out for 235, taking a lead of mere seven runs.

Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja took a 4-fer in the second innings

After being reduced to 142/5 at lunch, New Zealand pacers Kyle Jamieson (49) and Neil Wagner (21) added a 51-run stand for the ninth wicket before Ravindra Jadeja took a stunning catch at deep square leg, jumping high and plucking the ball out of air showing outstanding reflexes to dismiss Wagner.

The allrounder was immediately praised by his teammates as all of them were happy with his fielding brilliance. The effort left Wagner surprised too. At tea, Jadeja said he was expecting Neil Wagner to score more runs in the square leg region, but never thought the ball would come at that pace and he would grab it as well.

Read here: New Zealand on top after the dramatic second day in Christchurch

“I was expecting him (Wagner) to score towards deep square leg. But I didn’t expect the ball to come at that pace. It came so quickly with the wind and I just stuck my hand out. I didn’t even realise when I took the catch. We bowled well as a unit. We will look to bat well and bowl them out again,” he said.

Mohammed Shami took four wickets while Jasprit Bumrah (3/62) also did well with the ball to dismantle New Zealand’s batting order after they had said to punish India at one stage with Jamieson looking particularly impressive with the bat.

Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari hit a half-century each in the first innings of India where they were bowled out for a mere total of 242 on the back of 5-wicket haul from Kyle Jamieson. However, the pace spearhead Mohammed Shami took a four-fer, Jasprit Bumrah’s 3 and 2 for Jadeja restricted the Kiwis within 235 in the first innings.

On the other hand, a 4-fer and a 3-fer from Trent Boult and Tim Southee respectively dismantled India’s line up and they were bundled out within 124 in their second innings which was chased by the Kiwis with ease where Tom Latham and Tom Blundell both scored the fifties.