New Zealand all out for 262, trail by 56 runs on Day Three
Kanpur, Sep 24 (IANS) Riding on Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliant bowling, New Zealand were bundled out by hosts India for 262 on the third day of the first Test at the Green Park stadium here on Saturday.
Jadeja finished with yet another five-for, while Ashwin scalped four wickets as both the spinners together accounted for nine wickets to give the hosts a 56 run lead in the first innings.
The Indian bowlers came back strongly on the third day, after a bad second day’s play. Skipper Virat Kohli’s decision of starting the day’s proceedings with spinners paid off well for the hosts.
Resuming the day from 152 for one, Kiwi batters got off to a bad start as both the Indian spinners created problems for them with their turn and bounce.
The disciplined bowling of Ashwin got him a wicket at the start as he plumbed overnight batsman Tom Latham at 58 while Jadeja struck the new man Ross Taylor in the very next over via leg before.
Just when the Kiwi batters seemed good at the crease, Ashwin produced another beauty to rip off dangerous Kane Williamson’s off stump. New Zealand were now reeling at 170/4 in just eight overs.
The Kiwi’s middle-order — Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner and B Watling– somehow tried to hold their innings together but they only managed to score 38, 32 and 21 respectively.
After that there was no looking back for India as Jadeja ran through the visitor’s lower-order, taking three wickets in an over to wrap up the innings.