Indore: The New Zealanders have been pushed on the back-foot, as after Virat Kohli's fantastic double century (211) and Ajinkya Rahane’s scintillating ton on Day 2, it was Ravichandran Ashwin’s turn on the third day. The off-spinner took six wickets that wrapped off the Kiwi innings at 299, giving India a first innings lead of 258 runs in the third Test match being played at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, on Monday.

Resuming on 28 without loss in reply to India's 557/5 declared, New Zealanders responded positively with Martin Guptill (73) and Tom Latham (53) featuring in the first century opening stands of the series. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (6-81) wrecked the tourists in the second session when five wickets fell before James Neesham (71) cobbled together fifty partnerships with Bradley Watling (23) and Mitchell Santner (22) to push New Zealand near the 300 mark.

Ashwin broke the opening stand when Tom Latham hit one back to the bowler. Latham was looking to work the ball down the leg side against the spin but got a top edge which went straight to Ashwin. He picked his second wicket by bamboozling Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson again. Kane was looking to play a cut shot but the ball took an inside edge and hit the stumps.

Martin Guptill was unfortunately run out as Ashwin fielded the ball of his own bowling and it went on to hit the stumps. Luke Ronchi became Ashwin's fourth victim when he edged on to the wicketkeeper, but the ball ricocheted off Wriddhiman Saha's gloves and alert Ajinkya Rahane dived to his right to complete the catch. He claimed yet another five-wicket haul as he trapped Neesham in front of the wicket and dismissed Trent Boult to pick his sixth wicket.

This ended New Zealand's first innings with 299 while India still leading by 276 as they finished off 18/0 at the stumps.

"I don't find my rhythm very quickly. I take my five overs to get into groove, and once I do, my body lightens up and everything changes very quickly after that. Got to credit Rahane for the way he took the catches in the morning. I look to get a five for, as a batsman to get a hundred. You also need the help of other bowlers not to pick up wickets to get five fors as often as I do,” said Ashwin.