Kanpur: Spinners Ravindra Jadeja (5/73) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4/93) made the most of a turning pitch at the Green Park Stadium here Saturday to rip through New Zealand as India racked up a commanding 215-run lead on day three of the first Test.
Jadeja claimed his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests and Ashwin dismissed four frontline batsmen as New Zealand squandered a strong start, losing their last five wickets for seven runs to be all out for 262 and concede a 56-run first-innings lead.
India scored freely to consolidate their position reaching 159 for one at stumps with Murali Vijay (64 batting, 152b, 7×4, 1×6) and Cheteshwar Pujara (50 batting, 80b, 8×4) at the crease. Opener KL Rahul (38) fell to Ish Sodhi just before tea, caught at first slip by Ross Taylor, but Vijay and Pujara ensured that there were no further setbacks. The pair has so far added 107 unbroken runs for the second wicket and never looked in trouble against New Zealand’s three-pronged spin attack, cutting with control and pulling with panache.
Home captain Virat Kohli opted for spin from both ends to start the third day and New Zealand were soon robbed of the slight advantage they held after resuming on 152 for one in reply to India’s 318.
Ashwin provided the breakthrough by drifting one into Latham’s (58) front pad for an lbw decision to end the left-hander’s 124-run partnership with his captain Kane Williamson. Jadeja struck in the next over, dismissing Ross Taylor lbw for a duck with a delivery that appeared to be sliding down the leg side, but there was no such doubt when Ashwin bowled Williamson (75) with a ripper three overs later.
India’s premier spinner pitched it slightly short and considerably outside the off-stump, prompting Williamson to rock back in an attempt to punch it through the covers but the ball spun spitefully to breach the right-hander’s defence.
Luke Ronchi (38, 83b, 6×4) added 49 with Mitchell Santner (32, 107b, 5×4) but fell to a debatable leg before decision after Jadeja hit him on the pads with a dipping delivery which may have been missing off-stump.
Jadeja dismissed Mark Craig and Sodhi off successive deliveries. The left-arm spinner could not complete a hat-trick but claimed a third wicket of the over when he dismissed Trent Boult. Ashwin caught BJ Watling (21) off his own bowling to end New Zealand’s resistance.
The Indian spinners were more successful than day two because they bowled a fuller length and varied the pace of their deliveries. It had the Kiwi batsmen guessing for most part of their innings. Even though Ronchi and Santner defended dourly, they never looked comfortable during their stay in the middle.
As things stand anything over 300 in the second innings will be difficult to chase in the fourth innings. It remains to be seen though what Kohli decides to do when India resume their innings Sunday. He will also have to keep the seasonal rain factor in his mind.
Agencies
