India claim commanding test victory over NZ
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson and captain Kane Williamson acknowledged how quickly things could change in test cricket in India.
That much was plain to see as New Zealand went 1-0 down in their three-match series after the hosts wrapped up victory on the fifth and final afternoon in Kanpur.
The Black Caps were bowled out for 236 early in the second session on Monday, handing the home side a 197-run win.
A result of that nature had seemed barely believable when the visitors were 167 from a first innings lead with nine wickets in hand heading into day three.
India blasted their way back into contention through their world-class spinners, and from there they had a tail-wind home.
Right-arm off-spinner Ravi Ashwin had 10 wickets for the match, his left-arm partner and man-of-the-match Ravindra Jadeja six. New Zealand had failed the first ‘trial by spin’.
The final morning started well for the Black Caps. Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner rattled the score along in the early going.
The hosts were always just one wicket away from snatching back the momentum, though, and three to close the session had them on the brink of victory at Green Park Stadium.
Having started the day 93-4 and 343 from a world record target, the visitors were 205-7 as lunch was taken.
The impressive start from Ronchi and Santner had helped them add 112 in the session but the loss of Ronchi, BJ Watling and Mark Craig meant India were just three lower-order scalps away.
Ronchi made a fluent 80 off 120 before he was removed by left-arm spinner Jadeja, while Watling (18) and Craig (1) were both undone by reverse swing from Mohammed Shami.
It was Craig’s last act of the series after it had earlier been confirmed he had a side-strain and would be replaced by Wellington veteran Jeetan Patel in the squad.
Following an encouraging 38 in the first innings before a contentious lbw decision, the back-up wicketkeeper went past 50 three overs later and after 12 overs of spin Indian skipper Virat Kohli turned to seamer Umesh Yadav.
The pair reached 100 together just before drinks as the crowd becoming increasingly hushed but after the break they were about to find their voice again.
Just a few balls later Ronchi tried to hoist Jadeja over long-on against the spin and paid the price, slicing the ball up to Ashwin at point for a simple catch and India had their breakthrough. However, spin isn’t the only trick the hosts have up their sleeve and Shami’s introduction revealed immediate reverse swing. Watling was on the wrong side of a close lbw call just a couple of overs later, before the right-arm seamer tailed one back in to take Craig’s middle stump.
Ashwin removed Santer for a well-played 71 with a vicious turner, Sodhi for 17 and, finally Neil Wagner for a duck.
India’s 500th test had ended in victory, and the teams head to Kolkata with it all ahead of the Black Caps.