Colin de Grandhomme's grand debut, Misbah-ul-Haq's 50th Test as captain, other stats highlights from Day 2 of NZ-PAK 1st Test

6 for 41 by Grandhomme is the best bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler on Test debut.

Debutant Colin de Grandhomme scalped 6 for 41 on Day 2 of 1st Test against Pakistan Getty Images

The first Test of the two-match series between New Zealand and Pakistan is played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. After the first day of the Test was washed out because of rain, play began on second day of the match. New Zealand, who won the toss and opted to field first with two debutants in the form of Colin de Grandhomme and Jeet Raval. From the start of the innings, Kiwi bowlers did not gave any mercy to Pakistani batting line up as they run through them by bowling out for mere 133. Debutant, Grandhomme was the pick of the bowler from New Zealand, scalping 6 wickets for just 41 runs.

Other wicket-takers from Kiwi side were Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who got 2 each. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, playing his 50th Test as captain, was the highest scorer from his side with 31 from 108 balls. No other batsman could touch even 20-run mark; in fact, 7 of them were out below 10. Coming to New Zealand batting, they did a decent job with debutant Jeet Raval being unbeaten at 55 until the end of Day 2. New Zealand are currently at 104 for 3, trailing by only 29 runs. The second day surely went in New Zealand’s favour and with this interesting day in the match, we present some interesting numbers from this contest.

Two debutants in New Zealand Test side: Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme made their Test debut today. They became 270th and 271st Test player for New Zealand. The last instance of New Zealand played with two debutants in a Test was in February 2014 against India at Wellington.

6 for 41 by Grandhomme: This is the best bowling figures by a Kiwi bowler on debut. He broke the 65-year old record held by Alex Moir for taking 6 for 155 against England in 1951. He is the third Kiwi bowler to take a six-wicket haul on debut after Fen Cresswell and Moir.

It is also the second-best bowling figures by a debutant bowler against Pakistan in a Test after Kyle Abbott’s 7 for 29 in 2013.

Pakistan’s score of 133 is their 5th-lowest total in a completed innings of a Test against New Zealand. This is the 3rd-lowest total for Pakistan in New Zealand.

Eight New Zealand bowlers have taken five-wicket hauls on Test debut. The previous instance was that of Doug Bracewell (5 for 85 against Zimbabwe in 2011).

50th Test for Misbah as captain of Pakistan. He became first captain from Pakistan to reach the landmark, 16th overall and 7th among those who began their captaincy tenure (the other 6 are Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, MS Dhoni, Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss).

Unbeaten 55 runs so far from Jeet Raval is the 8th-highest score by a Kiwi debutant batsman against Pakistan in a Test. Since he is still alive at the crease and will resume batting on third day of the match, one can expect him to score big and enter the record books.

Jeet Raval also became 7th player of Indian origin to play for New Zealand in Tests after Narotam Puna, Dipak Patel, Jeetan Patel, Ronnie Hira, Tarun Nethula and Ish Sodhi.

This Test also witnessed the first instance of a five-wicket haul and half-century by debutants against Pakistan and fourth for New Zealand.

(Abhishek Kumar is a cricket devotee currently staffing with CricLife and CricketCountry.com. He can be followed at @abhik2593)