R Ashwin spins India towards victory
R Ashwin taken another 5 wicket haul, fifth in eight Tests, to push India towards a clean sweep of the series on the 3rd day of the second and final Test on Sunday.
R Ashwin 5/69 has kept New Zealand to 232/9 in their second innings. An overall lead of 244 and two days remaining, it is advantage India. Ashwin had taken a career best 12/85 in the first Test in Hyderabad, he has 49 Test scalps in eight.
It was an interesting contest on the third day at the M Chinnswamy Stadium where 14 wickets fell. It was an excellent Test match wicket and Tim Southee and Indian spinners shone after Virat Kohli hit his second Test ton. India accounted for nine Kiwi batsmen.
Umesh Yadav started off the second session on a high when he had Martin Guptill bowled in the first over. He added Brendon McCullum in his next as the visitors lost two wickets for one run.
New Zealand 123/4
The fortunes kept swinging here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. After Tim Southee’s seven-wicket haul had given New Zealand a slender 12-run lead, India bounced back to sit in an advantageous position at tea, reducing the visitors to 123/4 in 35 overs, an overall lead of 135.
New Zealand captain Ross Taylor was also back in the pavilion, being trapped by Pragyan Ojha for the second time in the match while attempting a sweep shot. After lunch, it was Umesh Yadav who set New Zealand back but removing both openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.
Armed with the second new ball this morning, New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee destroyed India’s lower order to give his team a slender lead. Before Southee’s career-best haul, Virat Kohli had struck his second Test hundred. India were 353 all out in 96.5 overs, giving the visitors a 12-run advantage. At lunch, New Zealand were 29/0 in five overs.
India finished the second day on 283/5. Virat Kohli is batting on 93 while captain MS Dhoni is unbeaten on 46. New Zealand will have the option of taking the second new ball after two overs into day’s play. On the second day, the visitors’ fast bowlers were impressive, backed up by exceptional ground fielding. Tim Southee had three wickets on Saturday. India won the first Test in Hyderabad by an innings and 115 runs.
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