Kanpur: Ravichandran Ashwin took six wickets as India defeated New Zealand by 197 runs in the first Test of the three-match match Test series, while playing their 500th Test match at Green Park in Kanpur on Monday.
New Zealand were dismissed for 236 runs while chasing a target of 434 runs despite a fighting 80 runs by Luke Ronchi. Ronchi and Mitchell Santner provided stiff resistance in the first hour of play before Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership. After that wickets fell at regular intervals. The Kiwis went in to lunch with India still needing three wickets and after the break, the tail didn’t last long.
Day 4
After skipper Virat Kohli had declared India’s innings at 377 for 5, giving a winning target of 434 runs to New Zealand on the fourth day of the first Test match, Ravichandran Ashwin struck thrice while Umesh Yadav’s throw found Ross Taylor short of the crease to reduce the visitors 93 for 4, giving India a good chance to win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Still needing 341 runs on the fifth-day wicket, Luke Ronchi (38) and Mitchell Santner (8) were at the crease when stumps were drawn on the fourth day.
Earlier, Rohit (68) and Ravindra Jadeja (50) brought a 100-run partnership after India had lost four wickets, starting the day at 159 for one. Rohit and Jadeja played with confidence on the deteriorating fourth day Green Park track. Jadeja in particular was entertaining of the two as he hit three sixes for his half century.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner dismissed two batsmen – Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane -- while Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig claimed a wicket each of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, respectively. Thereafter, Rohit and Jadeja kept scoring without much trouble before Kohli declared the second innings at 377 for five at tea.
Later, New Zealand were in for a shock, as Ravichandran Ashwin removed both the openers -- Martin Guptill (0) and Tom Latham (2) -- in the space of five balls that put the Kiwis on back-foot. Guptill was caught at forward short-leg while Latham was caught in front of the wicket while defending.
Ashwin got a big wicket of Kane Williamson as the Kiwi skipper was he trapped by him, giving Ashwin his 200th Test wickets. In the process, he also became the fastest Indian achieving the feat in his 37th match. Ashwin is the second fastest in the world behind Australian Clarrie Grimmett who got his 200th wicket in 36 matches.
Day 3
Earlier, riding on Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul (5-73) and Ravichandran Ashwin’s superb spell (4-93), India restricted New Zealand to 262 in their first innings on Day 3 of the first Test at Green Park, here on Saturday.
Later, India finished the day at 159/1, with Cheteshwar Pujara (50 not out) and Murali Vijay (64 not out) scoring half centuries. Pujara scored his second half century of the match which has put India at a commanding position with 215-run lead over New Zealand.
Day 2
Meanwhile Day 2 had belonged to Kane Williamson and Tom Latham as the Kiwis were 152 for one in reply to India’s 318 before rain played spoilsport in the last session at Green Park on Friday.
Tom Latham (56*) and skipper Kane Williamson (66*) scored unbeaten half-centuries during their 117-run second-wicket stand, sweeping the Indian spinners – R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja -- at will on a pitch which at times provided turn to the bowlers.
The hosts on resumption on day 2 had added 27 runs in seven overs in the morning session.
Day 1
Earlier on day 1, after a respectful start from KL Rahul and Murali Vijay (42/1) and an over hundred (112 runs) run partnership between Vijay and Cheteshwar Punjara for the second wicket, India had squandered their chances of setting a big target as they lost nine wickets for 291.
