Highlights, India vs New Zealand, WTC Final Day 2 at Southampton, Full Cricket Score: Play called off, India head to stumps on 146/3

22:51 (IST)

And that's that from Day 2 coverage as well. 

We managed to see 64 overs or so today before the dark clouds came back to suspend the play every now and then. At the end of the day, it was not possible to further play before the cut off time due to poor light. As fans, we might feel bad, but the sport itself is helpless against nature and bad light brings lot of risks with itself for cricketers. It is always advisable to be waiting for conditions to improve than risk one's body for the purpose of a result or entertainment.

Tomorrow we will back and weather permitting, we will have a full day of gritty cricket on display. India are on 146/3 with both Virat and Ajinkya in the middle. 

Till then, stay healthy and take care. Good bye. 

22:45 (IST)

Stumps, Day 2!

Rain and poor light has led to abandonment of play on second day. Only 64.4 overs is what we got today.  

Bad light plays spoilsport and that's stumps in Southampton!

India finish day two on 146/3 with Virat Kohli on 44* and Ajinkya Rahane keeping him company on 29*.#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | https://t.co/4vtSUyliQF pic.twitter.com/Xq9vD448Zk

— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2021

22:12 (IST)

The visuals are concerning and umpires and groundsman are again engaged in a mini conference in the middle. The hover cover is still on. The light continues to be poor.

22:10 (IST)

India women showing a lot of fight in Bristol. Bhatia and Rana playing knocks of their lives to help India save the game. 

Follow our live blog here for latest updates. 

21:59 (IST)

Not a very happy sight for fans and players alike

And now the covers return with the players off for bad light. #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/SRGt8vkr2q

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 19, 2021

21:35 (IST)

More bad news: Alright the covers are coming back on at The Ageas Bowl. It has become to drizzle a little and hence the covers. You and I and the 22 men over there play the waiting game. Stick together and watch this space for more updates.  

21:30 (IST)

Kumar Sangakkara with a masterclas on how to bat in England

He says, on air, batsmen need to play with the swing of the ball, on most occasions, playing square of the wicket. Explaining his point with example of how Rohit Sharma batted and got out today, he said Rohit was playing well with the swing till he played the one with a bat pointing towards the mid off region, eventually edging it behind the stumps. 

21:25 (IST)

Alright, the poor light interrupts play on Day 2 for the third time today. Kohli and Rahane are quick to walk off. Frustrating for NZ and India both. Fans show their disappointment. We will wait again for next update from the ground. 

21:25 (IST)

After 64 overs,India 143/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 42 , Ajinkya Rahane 28)

Southee continues. Two off the third ball. He is getting big movement in air. Southee tried to bring one in to Kohli, but lost the line, going down leg. He has struggled with this delivery throughout today.

21:17 (IST)

After 63 overs,India 141/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 40 , Ajinkya Rahane 28)

Trent Boult comes back on. Sunil Gavaskar, on air, analysing Kohli's technique in this innings, saying he is playing very close to the ball unlike Rohit and Shubman who were not doing the same and played away from body, eventually edging it behind the stumps. Wagner meanwhile asked the umpires to check the shape of the ball. The ball is in shape, no worries whatsoever. Just one off it.

21:12 (IST)

After 62 overs,India 140/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 40 , Ajinkya Rahane 28)

Southee continues. Starts off with a dot. The second ball takes the inside edge and runs behind square on the leg side, Rahane takes a double. A solid defence to finish the over by Indian vice-captain. Two off it.

21:08 (IST)

After 61 overs,India 138/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 40 , Ajinkya Rahane 26)

Jamieson continues. This is very good bowling from the tall guy. Keeping it up and asking Kohli questions with the line. Last ball a lot fuller, Kohli flicked it to man at square leg. Did not look in complete control playing that shot.    

21:04 (IST)

After 60 overs,India 138/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 40 , Ajinkya Rahane 26)

Southee continues. He is in middle of a good spell after starting off listlessly. He is much closer to the wickets than earlier and also closer to getting his first wicket. One bad ball, short to Rahane and he was punished. That took the partnership for the third wicket to 50. Kohli and Rahane at it again. Four off the over.

21:02 (IST)

FOUR! Southee drops it short and Rahane comes on top of it and pulls it away for four runs

21:00 (IST)

After 59 overs,India 134/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 40 , Ajinkya Rahane 22)

Jamieson completes his over. Five dots on the trot. Last ball angling in to Kohli, hit his front pads, followed by huge appeal but umpire Illingworth unmoved. Kohli thought of stealing a single, Rahane sent him back. A maiden.

20:57 (IST)

Rahane and Kohli back in the middle. It is slightly cloudy still. Hard conditions for batting, especially when there is a start-stop happening. Both the batsmen need to switch back on. Jamieson to complete his over. Kohli on strike.

20:54 (IST)

Happy visuals. Hope the happiness stays for long. Covers are off as the light has improved. Kohli is seen putting on his helmet. The match to resume soon.

20:48 (IST)

Every Test cricket fan right now:

C’mon rain/bad light vamoose! What a shame you are messing up such a wonderful contest

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 19, 2021

20:44 (IST)

Virat Kohli has been batting beautifully in this innings. He is playing late, with ball meeting the bat right under his eye. After tea, he was looking a bit anxious and that is what these rain/bad light interruptions do to you. Critical from India's point of view that he stays there for a long time and he reaches the three-figure mark, something which he has not achieved for a long time. 

20:34 (IST)

Alright, the covers are back on as well. Not great visuals but it is what it is. The weather has been bad for cricket for two days now. Umpires doing the right thing and asking groundsmen to cover the pitch if it begins to rain heavily. 

20:29 (IST)

The bad light interrupts the play again on Day 2 in the third session. The players are going off. The right decision has been made, however disheartening it is for the fans. Cricketers out there need to watch the ball, which is difficult in this light. Hopefully, the light improves quickly.  

20:26 (IST)

After 58 overs,India 134/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 40 , Ajinkya Rahane 22)

Southee continues. Kohli pushing at the deliveries now, and gets beaten twice on the first two balls. Sunil Gavaskar, on air, points out that he was not doing this before Tea. Something has changed in his head and it needs correction. Cracker of an over from Southee. He beat Rahane with two beautiful away drifters. Rahane has the last laugh though, finishes the over with a boundary.

20:25 (IST)

FOUR! Rahane hits it on the up and collects four at deeo backward point. Conway attempted to stop it but his left feet was touching as he stopped the ball.  

20:20 (IST)

After 57 overs,India 129/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 39 , Ajinkya Rahane 18)

Wagner from the other end. The second ball takes the outside edge of Kohli's bat and falls short of the second slip. There was less pace on the ball. Kohli checks his shot on the third ball to hit it to mid off for a single, he was looking to flick it but changed his mind. Rahane hesitatingly pulled and it landed in non man's land. Easy three on the penultimate ball of the over. Rahane finishes the over with a good-looking boundary. Nine off it.

20:20 (IST)

FOUR! Good shot from Rahane, in his slot and he drives it through the covers for four runs. Top shot that. 

20:16 (IST)

After 56 overs,India 120/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 35 , Ajinkya Rahane 13)

Southee completes his over, the 56th of the innings. These long breaks usually lead to fall of wickets, partnerships being broken. Kohli and Rahane need to be cautious here. Huge appeal on the fifth ball of the over as the ball passed Rahane down the leg stump line, umpire Gough unmoved. Seemed it brushed the thigh pad on its way to the keeper. A maiden. 

20:11 (IST)

Good news: The players are coming out in the middle. The match set to resume soon. The light has improved a bit but the rain threat persists. Hopefully, the rain stays away. Live action in a few minutes. 

20:10 (IST)

In Bristol, India women are fighting it out in the middle. Following on, they lead by 57 runs with three wickets in hand. 

Click here to catch our LIVE Blog that includes the over-by-over updates and live score.

20:07 (IST)

Official confirmation as we play the waiting game.

UPDATE - Start of play in the final session has been delayed due to bad light.#WTC21 pic.twitter.com/PQH2dHiHq8

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 19, 2021

20:02 (IST)

The news from Southampton is that the third session has been delayed due to poor light. The dark cloud cover persists making it difficult for batsmen to spot the red ball. The covers are out as it may rain at any moment. 

Watch this space for more updates.

19:47 (IST)

After 55.3 overs,India 120/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 35 , Ajinkya Rahane 13)

Early tea taken on the second day of the final, the umpires arriving at the decision after a quick meeting on the field three deliveries into the 56th over. Bad light, and not rain, the culprit this time with the overcast conditions making it challenging for the batsmen to pick the cherry. Boos ring around the Ageas Bowl, but the umpires also have to think about player welfare, and not just the fans’ desires.

A session in which India lost only one wicket, that of Cheteshwar Pujara, but was undoubtedly dominated by the New Zealand pacers. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has been solid as a rock so far, unbeaten on 35. A lot will depend on him if India are to post a sizeable first innings total.

19:42 (IST)

After 55 overs,India 120/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 35 , Ajinkya Rahane 13)

Wagner replaces CdG. We witness a first in the Pretoria-born pacer’s ninth over — a no ball for overstepping in the third delivery. Wagner sends the next one full and wide, and Rahane’s edge nearly carries the ball to gully. Single to Rahane off the penultimate delivery followed by a steep bouncer to Kohli for a dot.

19:36 (IST)

After 54 overs,India 118/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 35 , Ajinkya Rahane 12)

Some good running between the wickets between the captain and his deputy as Kohli collects a brace off each of the first two balls of this over. Follows it up with another double off the last delivery as he plays with soft hands, guiding the ball towards third man. The ball, however, is still moving prodigiously in the air at the moment and the danger is far from over for Kohli and Rahane.

19:36 (IST)

After 53 overs,India 112/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 29 , Ajinkya Rahane 12)

Five off de Grandhomme’s 11th over, including a boundary to Rahane off the fourth delivery off a well-timed cut through point that helps him bring up double figures.

19:29 (IST)

FOUR! Length ball outside off from CdG, Rahane waits for it to climb before getting on the backfoot for a solid cut through point to move to double figures. IND 112/3

19:28 (IST)

After 52 overs,India 107/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 28 , Ajinkya Rahane 8)

Kohli faces his arch-nemesis Southee — an individual who has dismissed him 10 times in international cricket — in this over, breaking the monotony with a single towards midwicket off the last ball.

19:24 (IST)

After 51 overs,India 106/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 27 , Ajinkya Rahane 8)

Change from both ends — CdG replacing Boult from the Hotel End. Walks away with a sixth maiden in 10 overs as Rahane, attempting to play with soft hands on a couple of occasions hoping to guide the ball behind square, goes through the six deliveries without scoring.

19:21 (IST)

After 50 overs,India 106/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 27 , Ajinkya Rahane 8)

Tim Southee, who had left the field for some time and was substituted by Will Young, back into the attack, replacing Jamieson from the Pavilion End. Loud appeal for LBW against Kohli off the last ball, but the inside-edge was clearly visible to the naked eye.

19:19 (IST)

After 49 overs,India 106/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 27 , Ajinkya Rahane 8)

Couple of beautiful strokes in Boult’s 11th over — Kohli collecting three after guiding the ball through the point region for three runs off the first ball, followed by cover drive by Rahane three balls later for a brace. Five off the over.

19:12 (IST)

After 48 overs,India 101/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 24 , Ajinkya Rahane 6)

Jamieson’s streak of maidens comes to an end as Kohli dashes off for a quick run after working the ball in front of cover off the second delivery of the over — the only run he concedes in his 12th.

19:11 (IST)

This should clear the confusion on that Kohli caught behind appeal!

Playing Conditions on Umpire's referral. TV umpire was right to cross-check Ultra Edge but think confusion was caused by the fact Illingworth did not seem to have made any onfield decision/soft signal, which gave the impression that it was a review by Williamson.#WTCFinal2021 pic.twitter.com/4u9LUzjz9f

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 19, 2021

19:11 (IST)

After 47 overs,India 100/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 23 , Ajinkya Rahane 6)

A productive over for India with five coming off it — Kohli nicking three off the second delivery with a lovely on drive, followed by Rahane grabbing two three balls later — as India bring up the 100 for the loss of three in this over.

19:04 (IST)

After 46 overs,India 95/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 20 , Ajinkya Rahane 4)

Another maiden for Jamieson — his seventh in 11 overs. Rahane thinks of another quick single for a fleeting moment off the last ball after tapping an in swinging delivery to short leg, but ultimately deciding against it.

19:00 (IST)

After 45 overs,India 95/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 20 , Ajinkya Rahane 4)

Boult continues on the other side of the drinks break. Meanwhile, Kohli sets off for a quick double off the last ball of the over, clipping an inswinging delivery behind square and dashing back to the striker’s end well in time.

18:51 (IST)

After 44 overs,India 93/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 18 , Ajinkya Rahane 4)

Second consecutive maiden for Jamieson as Rahane decides to take things a little easy after nearly running himself out in the previous over. Drinks brought out to the field at the end of this over.

18:48 (IST)

After 43 overs,India 93/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 18 , Ajinkya Rahane 4)

Couple of quick singles in Boult’s second over of the spell, the second one involving a close shave for Rahane as he challenges himself against Williamson standing at mid off. The New Zealand tries a quick throw towards the non-striker's stumps, but isn’t quite accurate, allowing Rahane to safely reach home.

18:45 (IST)

After 42 overs,India 91/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 17 , Ajinkya Rahane 3)

Another testing over from Jamieson, with Rahane seeing off the six deliveries without setting off for a run, as the lanky all-rounder collects his fifth maiden in nine overs. Remains to be seen how Kohli and Rahane deal with the situation, which is rapidly starting to escalate in the Black Caps’ favour at the moment.

18:38 (IST)

After 41 overs,India 91/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 17 , Ajinkya Rahane 3)

Change from both ends as Trent Boult bowls from the Hotel End, getting rid of Pujara with a beautiful in swinger that traps him leg-before in front of middle and leg. Deputy leader Rahane joins Kohli at the centre, and gets off the mark instantly with a square flick that fetches him three runs. Another loud appeal for caught-behind down the leg side, this time Kohli the batsman in question in the last delivery of the over, and the decision ultimately goes upstairs — without the on-field umpire having raised his finger or Williamson opting for the review in time. And no connection between bat and ball either, so Kohli’s safe for now. But New Zealand certainly are on top at the moment, seizing control of the game since the departures of the two openers.

18:35 (IST)

Yet again!

Trent Boult has dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara in three out of last four Test innings where both have played against each other.#WTCFinal

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) June 19, 2021

18:32 (IST)

OUT! Trent Boult strikes right away at the start of his second spell, trapping Pujara leg-before with a delivery that nips back in and hits him on the back leg in front of middle and leg. Pujara has a quick chat with his skipper, but ultimately decides against going for the review. Could've been marginally high, but Kohli perhaps decided against the risk of losing a review like the Kiwis did. IND 88/3

Pujara LBW Boult 8(54)