Spidercam (Source – Jio Cinema)
The spidercam suddenly stopped moving and caused an interruption in play at the fag end of the first session on Day 2 of the final Test between India and New Zealand at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This technical glitch forced the umpires to call for an early Lunch Break on Saturday, November 2.
India lost four wickets before stumps on Day 1 after New Zealand got bowled out for 235 in their first innings. Starting Day 2 at 86/4, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill adopted a counter-attacking approach to thwart the New Zealand bowlers. Both of them registered their half-centuries in the 30th over bowled by Ish Sodhi. Gill got to the landmark off 66 balls. Meanwhile, the wicketkeeper-batter needed just 36 balls to reach his fifty.
India promoted Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in the batting order to maintain a left-right combination in the middle. The experienced all-rounder joined forces with Gill and the duo took India to 195/5 at the end of the 43rd over.
As Ajaz Patel was getting ready to bowl the second over in his new spell, the spider cam stopped functioning and landed peculiarly on the square. The on-field umpires Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth discussed as play was brought to a halt. The Kiwi players saw the funny side of it as they shared a few laughs in the middle. Daryl Mitchell engaged in a light-hearted banter with the umpires as the technician arrived to fix the issue.
The umpires called for the Lunch Break and the players had to return to their respective dressing rooms a few minutes and an over earlier than expected. By the time the technician had sorted things, the players had already walked off the park.
— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889) November 2, 2024
India lose two wickets in quick succession after Lunch
Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips started proceedings for New Zealand after the Lunch Break. In the fourth over of the second session, Phillips got the better of Jadeja, who edged one to Mitchell at first slip.
In the following over, Ajaz got rid of Sarfaraz Khan for a four-ball duck as the young batter tried to defend off the front foot but failed to account for the turn and bounce. The ball kissed his glove on the way to wicketkeeper, Tom Blundell, as New Zealand got their seventh wicket.