India on top in tight first Test battle against the Black Caps
India finished day three of the first Test against New Zealand in a commanding position having secured a first innings lead.
The hosts took control after Axar Patel’s five-for wrapped up New Zealand’s first innings at 296 Saturday in reply to the hosts’ 345.
At stumps, India were 14-1, leading by 63 runs in their second innings with opener Shubman Gill back in the hut, bowled by Kyle Jamieson for one before bad light stopped play after five overs.
Mayank Agarwal, on four, and Cheteshwar Pujara, on nine, will resume the innings Sunday as the hosts look to put the first of two Tests out of reach on an increasingly tricky wicket.
Earlier, Patel and the other Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja had to claw India back into the game after a strong New Zealand start.
The Black Caps were 249-6 at tea, but the three spinners finished the Kiwi innings off within 47 runs after the break.
Patel bowled Tim Southee for five to complete his five-for.
India seize control
Patel said he had been using the crease well on the pitch which is “slowing up even further”.
“Today (it) was even slower than the first two days, though it was turning more. It is difficult, but you can survive here with caution,” he said after play.
Ashwin took the last two wickets of the innings to finish his 42.3-over spell giving away 82 runs for three scalps.
Jamieson was caught off Ashwin for 23 and William Somerville was clean bowled by the offspinner to end the Black Caps’ innings.
Ashwin and Patel denied centuries to the Kiwi openers — Tom Latham and Will Young — who closed the day on Friday at 129 for zero.
Latham was stumped by substitute wicketkeeper K.S. Bharat off Patel’s bowling for a grinding 95 off 282 balls.
Young, who shared a 151-run opening stand with Latham, fell 11 short of his maiden international century after edging Ashwin to Bharat.
The 29-year-old told journalists after play that batsmen have to use the conditions to “take calculated risks to keep the scoreboard ticking over”.
“I think each one has their own method of how they’re going to combat the conditions and also the Indian bowlers who are highly skilled in these conditions,” Young said.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson fell leg-before to pacer Umesh Yadav for 18 just before lunch, leaving the visitors on 197-2.
India’s spinners, especially Patel and Ashwin, then looked more potent on the third-day wicket with the second new ball, bowling tight lines and offering little to the batters.
Ross Taylor survived a stumping by K.S. Bharat off Axar before edging the same bowler to the substitute wicketkeeper a few overs later, departing for 11.
Henry Nicholls was given leg-before to Patel for two and Latham fell for 95. Jadeja bowled debutant Rachin Ravindra for 13.
Jadeja bowled 33 overs for 57 runs and Patel, India’s most effective spinner, bowled 34 overs for 62 runs and five wickets.
Yadav, who took India’s second new ball with Patel, bowled 18 overs for 50 runs and Williamson’s wicket.
Latest
-
News
It’s a lot of fun – Heather Knight still enjoying captaining England
Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards, who had a decade-long stint in the position, in June 2016.
-
England
On this day in 2018: Kevin Pietersen retires from professional cricket
The latter years of the Pietermaritzburg-born maverick’s career were spent on the T20 circuit.
-
England
Jofra Archer snaps off stump on impressive return from injury in India
The 28-year-old took two for 22 in seven overs.
-
County Cricket
Darren Gough steps down as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough said it was the “right time” to move on having been in the post since December 2021.
-
England
On this day in 2004: Steve Harmison takes seven for 12 against West Indies
The pace bowler produced a devastating spell at Sabina Park 20 years ago.
-
England
Jos Buttler feels refreshed and ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of his career
England’s white-ball team endured a poor 2023 which culminated in the disastrous defence of their World Cup crown in India.
-
England
Jos Buttler confident ‘special cricketer’ Jofra Archer will be fit for World Cup
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 match in Bangladesh.
-
Indian Premier League
England batter Harry Brook withdraws from IPL following death of his grandmother
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.