Spin duo Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin yesterday made the most of a turning track in Kanpur to rip through New Zealand and earn India a handy first innings lead in the first Test.
Jadeja claimed his fifth Test “five-for” 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 were 52-1 when tea was taken immediately after Lokesh Rahul (38) was caught at slip off Ish Sodhi’s bowling.
India’s other opener, Murali Vijay, was batting on 14 with the hosts holding an overall lead of 108 runs.
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 152-1 in pursuit of India’s 318.
Ashwin provided the breakthrough by drifting one into Tom Latham’s (58) front pad for an LBW decision to end the left-hander’s 124-run partnership with New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson.
Jadeja struck in the next over, dismissing Ross Taylor LBW for a duck with a delivery that appeared to slide down the leg side, but there was no such ambiguity when Ashwin clean 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 a bid to punch it through the covers, but the ball spun spitefully to breach the right-hander’s defense.
Luke Ronchi (38) put on 49 with Mitchell Santner (32), but fell to a debatable LBW decision after Jadeja trapped him with a dipping delivery that might have been missing the off-stump.
As wickets continued to tumble, Jadeja dismissed Mark Craig and Sodhi off successive deliveries. The left-arm spinner could not complete a hat-trick, but claimed the third wicket of the over when he dismissed Trent Boult.
Ashwin caught B.J. Watling (21) off his own bowling to end New Zealand’s resistance and ensure the tourists will face the daunting task of batting in the fourth innings on a track offering significant spin.
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