Confidence can do a lot of good things for an individual. Certainly Indian pacer Akash Deep felt the gist of it as he cleaned up the opposition captain with a seed despite being denied a wicket in the previous delivery, courtesy of a successful New Zealand review in the second session.
Indian overnight batters Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill turned the table in India’s favour with a 96-run fifth-wicket partnership in the morning session before Washington Sundar’s late blister propelled India to 263 with a lead of 28 runs. Eyeing for an early wicket, Akash Deep delivered the good for the Men in Blue in the first over itself despite one of the potential chances being denied due to drs.
Having conceded a couple of runs against Devon Conway and Tom Latham in the first three balls, Akash came wide of the around the wicket angle and bowled a good length delivery at the New Zealand skipper. The southpaw played at it outside the line and incurred a thud at the pad, watching the umpire accept the Indian appeal and signal out. However, the batter opted for a review and a vivid inside edge saved him then. Only had Latham known that his stay was shortlived at the crease until the next ball.
Akash went full with the same angle and cleaned up Latham as the batter intended a drive off the front foot and got beaten on the inside edge. Akash, who was seen celebrating on the previous ball only to watch a drs overturn the decision could not resist but broke into an enthusiastic ball of energy, surrounded by his teammates. The Twitterverse equally loved the energetic soul and how his confidence helped Akash to earn the dividends despite the mini setback.
What a ball!
Thats ball!
Brilliant!
— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889) November 2, 2024
🚨 Breaking News
– Aakash Deep Strikes
𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐢 𝐤𝐚𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐮 𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐲𝐞 😉#INDvNZ— GordXRohit (@gordxrohit) November 2, 2024
Exceptional delivery!!!
What a bowl 🔥🔥
— 𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞 🦅 (@FlyingXEagle) November 2, 2024
Watching it on loop!
What a Ball by Aakash Deep❤️#INDvNZ #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #Rishabpant #gill#SB19 #DiwaliCelebration
pic.twitter.com/jKbJTvn2Tp— Priya (@Priyamiss00) November 2, 2024
Early break through for team India , Aakash deep gets tom Latham LBW.
To Latham dismissal 01 (04) balls.#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/ymECSRJ5Sq— Vinod Vishwakarma 🇮🇳 (@lohar__vinod) November 2, 2024
Excellent!