India tighten grip on first Test against New Zealand
KIWIS STILL 341 RUNS BEHIND WITH SIX WICKETS IN HAND ON FINAL DAY
ndian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed three wickets to have New Zealand reeling on 93 for four at stumps yesterday as the hosts tightened their grip on the first Test.
New Zealand were still 341 runs behind their mammoth target of 434, with Luke Ronchi (38) and Mitchell Santner (8) battling on in India’s 500th Test.
The pair put on 37 for the fifth wicket to steady New Zealand’s innings somewhat after the visitors were reduced to 56 for four.
Ronchi, who has hit four fours and one six during his 58-ball stay, played positively to tackle the spinners on a turning track.
Ashwin rocked the New Zealand innings in his second over when he sent openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham trudging back to the pavilion.
An unlucky Guptill got an inside edge onto his pads to be dismissed for a duck, with the ball lobbing into the hands of Murali Vijay at short leg.
The left-handed Latham, who scored a gritty 58 in the first innings, was trapped lbw R. Ashwin, W. Saha, R. Jadeja, M. Shami, U. Yadav
T. Latham lbw b Ashwin M. Guptill c Vijay b Ashwin K. Williamson lbw b Ashwin R. Taylor run out L. Ronchi not out M. Santner not out
(lb 2, nb 1) (4 wickets; 37 overs)
1-2 (Guptill), 2-3 (Latham), 3-43 (Williamson), 5-56 (Taylor)
2 0 25 17 38 8 3 93 Shami 4-2-6-0, Ashwin 16-1-683, Jadeja 14-10-8-0, Yadav 3-0-9-0 BJ. Watling, M. Craig, N. Wagner, T. Boult, I. Sodhi Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Rod Tucker (AUS) for two when playing for off-break that did not turn.
Ashwin then got the prized wicket of captain Kane Williamson for 25, derailing New Zealand’s chase at Kanpur’s
the Green Park. It was Ashwin’s 200th Test wicket in his 37th match, making him the second fastest player to the total.
Unbroken stand
Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett raced to 200 wickets in 36 games.
India declared their second innings on 377 for five at tea with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja putting on a 100-run unbroken partnership for the sixth wicket.
The pair played attacking cricket in the second session to put India on top. Jadeja hit two fours and three sixes during his 58-ball knock and Sharma struck eight boundaries for his fifth Test half-century.
Cheteshwar Pujara topscored for the hosts with 78 and his 133-run second-wicket partnership with Murali Vijay (76) was the highlight of the innings.