Day 4: Another flop show by Rahane, Pujara as India in trouble at lunch
Kanpur, Nov 28: Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and his temporary deputy Cheteshwar Pujara's saga of failures continued as India were put on the mat by New Zealand bowlers, primarily Tim Southee, reducing the hosts to 84 for five at lunch on the fourth day of the opening Test here on Sunday.
First innings centurion Shreyas Iyer (18 not out off 51 balls) and the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin (20 not out off 35 balls) were trying to stem the rot as India's overall lead extended to 133. They have so far added 33 runs for the sixth wicket.
While the pitch is still not an unplayable one, India's spinners might be able to defend anything in the range of 180 as it is expected that a lot of balls will keep low even if there won't be much turn on offer.
However on the fourth morning, Southee, a practitioner of conventional swing bowling, took a master-class on how to bowl on an unresponsive Indian track classically setting up batters.
But before Southee got into the act, Kyle Jamieson (8-3-21-2) targeted Cheteshwar Pujara's (22 off 33 balls) ribcage, getting one to rear up on this dead track and it brushed India no 3's gloves into the hands of keeper Tom Blundell.
Rahane (4 off 15 balls) is out of form and the world knew that. The best way to create pressure was to cut down on singles and for 13 balls, he struggled to get a run.
Then a gorgeous inside out cover drive off Ajaz Patel (9-2-29-1) seemed like helping him break the shackles.
However Patel, who has looked way below Test class, produced his best delivery of the match. An arm ball that was fired in with the angle caught Rahane plumb in-front trying to play a forward defensive prod.
Mayank Agarwal (17) did all the hardwork in the first hour but then Southee (10-2-27-2) set him up with deliveries that came into him from good length spot as he played with a closed bat-face.
Then he pitched on on the same spot only to Agarwal's horror, it shaped slightly away and he had committed to a closed bat face. The result was a regulation catch to Tom Latham in the second slip.
For Ravindra Jadeja (0), Southee used width of the crease with an angular delivery that wrapped him on the pads.
At 51 for five, Ashwin joined Iyer and played some attacking strokes including a straight drive off Southee to calm the tense dressing room.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengaluru: Police launch citywide drive to verify visas, credentials of foreign nationals
Bengaluru (PTI): In a coordinated drive to verify the visa status, FRRO details, and credentials of foreign nationals residing in the city, police said on Thursday that inspections are being conducted across all areas of the city.
All Deputy Commissioners of Police and police personnel are actively involved in checking the visa status, Foreigners Regional Registration Office details, and other relevant documents of foreign residents, officials said.
To avoid inconvenience to the public, the inspections are being carried out systematically through live monitoring and field verification methods, they added.
“House owners are required to provide details of foreign nationals residing in their premises, including visa and FRRO information, to the jurisdictional police station,” a statement from the office of Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said.
Foreign nationals found overstaying their visa or residing without proper documentation are being identified, and legal action is being initiated against them, the statement added. Deportation procedures will also be undertaken if required.
Verification is also being conducted on foreign nationals involved in any illegal activities, police said.
“This operation is being carried out to maintain law and order in the city, and public cooperation is essential,” the statement said. Police urged citizens and house owners to report any suspicious foreign nationals to the nearest police station. The operation will continue further, it added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday described infiltrators as a threat to national security, alleging that they consume ration and benefits meant for citizens.
Shah made the remark in Araria district of Bihar, where he inaugurated projects worth Rs 175 crore for the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and dedicated several new border outposts to the nation.
