Finance
Ravindra Jadeja (4-52) and R Ashwin (3-63) helped India reduce New Zealand to 171/9 in their second innings by the close of Day 2 of the third Test in Mumbai. New Zealand, who scored 235 in their first innings, led by 143 runs after Ajaz Patel’s 5-103 helped them bowl out India for 263, giving the hosts only a 28-run lead.
On a crumbling surface with sharp turn and inconsistent bounce, the spinners continued to rule the roost with another solid day.
After New Zealand held India to 263 in their first innings and led by only 28 runs despite contrasting half-centuries by Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60), the hosts raced back into contention thanks to Ashwin and Jadeja.
Akash Deep, who opened the bowling, provided India another breakthrough by bowling Tom Latham for one as the ball dipped back in to sneak through the space between bat and pad.
Washing Sundar then bowled Devon Conway (22) and Ashwin dismissed Rachin Ravindra for 4, but Will Young and Daryl Mitchell, who had saved New Zealand in their first innings, put on a half-century stand to keep their hopes alive.
But Ashwin made a fantastic catch off a skier, going a long distance to scoop a diving catch from Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling, to dismiss Mitchell for 21 off 41 balls. New Zealand lost their fourth wicket with 94 runs on the board and a 66-run lead.
Jadeja took his seventh wicket of the match as he sent Tim Blundell crashing into his wicket with a full-length delivery that surged onto the batter. He returned Ish Sodhi to make it eight wickets for the match as India grabbed control.
Glenn Phillips hit Ashwin for a couple of sixes in an over, but the experienced off-spinner had the last laugh, slamming back the off-stump with a magnificent carrom ball that the batter misread and played the wrong line. Phillips scored 26 from 14 balls (1×4, 3×6), bringing New Zealand down to 131/6.
But Young kept their hopes alive with his second half-century in the contest, before spooning a catch back to Ashwin off another carrom ball tossed up which drifted towards the leg-stump. Young showed lots of patience as he scored 51 off 100 balls, hitting two fours and a six.
Matt Henry, who had struck a six over long-off on Jadeja’s bowling, was clean bowled by Jadeja for 10 runs after stumps were called. Patel, batting on seven, and new batsman William ORourke will continue on Day three as India looks for their first win of the series.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 235 and 171/9 in 43.3 overs (Will Young 51; Ravindra Jadeja 4-52, R Ashwin 3-63) lead India 263 all out in 59.4 overs (Shubman Gill 90, Rishabh Pant 60, Washington Sundar 38 not out; Ajaz Patel 5-103) by 143 runs
Source: IANS
