New Zealand has been put into bat by India in the second one day international in Jaipur tonight.

With the game being a day/nighter and heavy dew expected during the evening session, Indian captain Gautam Gambir predictably thought it wise to let the New Zealand bowlers struggle to bowl with a slippery ball.

If they do struggle, they won’t be the only ones in this match to find conditions impalpable. The batsmen have, too.

The opening pair of Jamie How and Martin Guptill made a furious start to the innings, smashing three fours in the first two overs. Then the runs dried up. What had been wayward bowling by S Sreesanth and Asheigh Nehra soon became the model of good line and length just wide of off-stump. And the New Zealander’s soon began to find batting not to their liking on what has been a low slow pitch.

How, in particular, was finding the going tough and perished in the fifth over after edging a Sreenanth deliver through to wicketkeeper Wriddiman Saha to leave New Zealand 14 for one.

In a strange decision, Captain Daniel Vettori decided to promote the inexperienced Kane Williamson up the order to number three ahead of Ross Taylor, despite the difficult batting conditions.

Williamson and Guptill proceeded to put on a partnership of fifty before Williamson was bowled by Munaf Patel playing around the ball for 29 with New Zealand now 64 for two in the 16th over.

After twenty overs, Guptill and Taylor had taken New Zealand through to 75 for two.