Indore: Cheteshwar Pujara (148b, 9×4) struck his eighth test century and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (7/59) engineered another spectacular batting collapse to help India crush New Zealand by 321 runs in the third Test and complete a 3-0 series sweep here Tuesday at the Holkar Stadium.
Ashwin, who claimed 6/81 in the first innings, resumed his role as New Zealand’s wrecker-in-chief, as the tourists, chasing 475 for an improbable win, were dismissed for 153 to lose inside four days.
After Umesh Yadav dismissed Tom Latham to earn an early breakthrough, Ashwin spun a web around the batsmen as New Zealand lost nine wickets in the final session.
Ashwin dismissed captain Kane Williamson (27) for the second time in the match, ended Ross Taylor’s (32) breezy knock and sent back Luke Ronchi to rip out the Kiwi top order before returning to blow away the tail. Fittingly, Ashwin caught Trent Boult off his own bowling to end New Zealand’s innings with career-best bowling figures.
The spinner finished the series with 27 wickets and was the obvious choice for the man of the match and man of the series awards.
“Could not have asked for anything better,” India captain Virat Kohli said at the presentation ceremony. “The bowlers have responded beautifully in the series every time we’ve been under a bit of pressure. Every time the Kiwis had a partnership, someone put his hands up and brought those breakthroughs for us.”
Earlier, Gautam Gambhir (50, 56b, 6×4) struck 50 on his Test return and Pujara batted brilliantly as India declared their second innings on 216 for three around an hour before tea.
Resuming on 18-0, the hosts lost opener Murali Vijay cheaply but Gambhir, who had retired hurt with an injured shoulder Monday, returned to score fluently. He got his 22nd Test 50 but was dismissed when he drove off-spinner Jeetan Patel to Guptill at cover.
Patel removed Kohli (17) lbw for the second time in the match but Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (23 n o) added 58 quick runs before India declared.
Meanwhile, after the game, Kohli was presented with the Test mace as India had reclaimed the No. 1 ranking after winning the second game in Kolkata.
“That’s the right step we have taken. We believe in our skill and not believe in creating conditions or atmosphere which might suit us partially. We wanted to express ourselves. We finished two games in four days and that gives us a lot of confidence,” said Kohli.
Saha rested on Kumble’s advice
India’s chief coach Anil Kumble has advised Test specialist Wriddhiman Saha to take complete rest for two weeks which means that the wicket-keeper batsman will be missing Bengal’s first two Ranji Trophy games against Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Wriddhiman, who will be 32 in less than a fortnight had kept wickets for more than 452 overs during the three Test matches against New Zealand. Add to it, two knocks of 50-plus in pressure situation and one can understand the workload he took.
“I have been informed that chief coach Anil Kumble has advised Wriddhiman to take rest after three back-to-back Test matches. He is not expected to play in the first two Ranji Trophy games for Bengal. He has had a lot of workload and with the England Test matches coming up next month, it is only fair that he gets adequate rest,” Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary informed Wednesday.
The two games that Wriddhiman will miss are against UP (Oct 13-16) and against Punjab (Oct 20-23). But he is expected to play against Railways (Oct 27-30). That game will act as good match practice ahead of England series.
It is however, not known how Wriddhiman is feeling about the entire development. One of the fittest members of the Indian team, the Bengal glovesman doesn’t want to miss even a club game. There have been many occasions when he has asked his club (Mohun Bagan) official to buy him an early morning flight ticket so that he can join the action straight from a Test match.
Agencies
