New Zealand pacer Tim Southee believes that Rishabh Pant’s freak run-out went a long way in changing the course of the Indian innings that eventually folded up for 165.
Pant, who started the day with a six in the first over suffered because of Ajinkya Rahane’s poor call and India lost five wickets for 33 runs from that point. Rahane himself fell to Southee as he inside edged to the keeper trying to shoulder arms and late inward movement became his undoing.
Asked if there was any strategy to dismiss Rahane, Southee replied: “No, the run-out of Pant was a big this morning. With him (Pant) being such a dangerous player and leading into that second new-ball, he could have scored quickly along with Jinks (Rahane’s nickname).”
Southee knew that Rahane had no option but to attack once Pant was dismissed.
“We knew though if we could open one end up with the bowlers, then Jinks was looking to play a little bit more aggressively, which brings us into play a little more.
“The way we bowled this morning was pretty good. To come off and finish the Indian batting line-up like that with two dangerous players in this morning,” said Southee, who picked four wickets.