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India vs New Zealand Preview & Predictions 1st Test, Day 5, 2016: Rampant India set for victory

Indians continued to dominate the touring party that struggled on all fronts, including fitness, on fourth day of the Kanpur Test.

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Rohit Sharma showed glimpse of form in his unbeaten 68 © AFP

New Zealand are facing a massive defeat at the hands of India in the opening Test at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium. After being set a mammoth target of 434, the Kiwis made a horrendous start, lost their major chunk of batting without a significant score on the board, and were left tottering at 93 for four. Indians continued to dominate the touring party that struggled on all fronts, including fitness. As many as four Indian batsmen slammed half-centuries, and Ravichandran Ashwin ripped apart the Kiwi’s top order to make it yet another memorable day for his team on the field. The day witnessed a few milestones achieved as well, with Rohit Sharma completing his 1,000 runs in Test cricket and Ashwin bagging his 200th wicket in the format. Ashwin became the second quickest to 200 Test wickets as he took 37 games to achieve the feat, one behind Australia’s Clarrie Grimmet.

Earlier in the day, India began their second innings at a strong position with Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. The two batsmen, who had already completed their second consecutive century stand for the second wicket, added a total of 133 runs in India’s second innings to consolidate the position of their side. Both Vijay and Pujara deserved centuries the way they did in the first innings, but both fell in quick succession, that too into their 70s. While Vijay was the first batsman to be dismissed on the fourth day, for 76, Pujara got slightly more. The right-handed No. 3 batsman made 78, striking 10 boundaries during his stay.

India wished their captain Virat Kohli would get runs, but looking at his approach in the second innings, there was not much difference from the way he played in the first essay. Kohli looked to dominate, his stroke-play was aggressive and there was some unusual urgency for whatever time he was at the wicket. Kohli did get a start, but he was eventually dismissed for 18 off 40 balls, marking a poor start for him in the series. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs New Zealand, 1st Test at Kanpur

But the other batsmen who were also expected to do well got the runs. Ajinkya Rahane had a soft dismissal in the second innings as well, but not before he made 40 off 81 balls, studded with four boundaries. But more than Kohli and Rahane, it was Rohit Sharma who was under pressure. The right-hander who has faced a lot of scrutiny, silenced his critics as he slammed an unbeaten 68, and also completed his 1,000 runs in the longest format of cricket. ALSO READ: New Zealand face inevitable defeat

Ravindra Jadeja has been India’s star performer in this Test. A crucial unbeaten 42 in first innings, 5 for 73 and then a deserving 50 not out in the second. He began with playing second fiddle to an on-song Rohit, but warmed up to the prospect of scoring his fifty with a few sixes. By the time Jadeja swung his bat like a sword to celebrate his only second Test half-century, the left-handed batsman had clobbered 3 sixes and 2 boundaries to take the game completely out of New Zealand’s reach.

In their reply, New Zealand began horrendously. Martin Guptill was caught at silly point attempting a sweep; the ball hit his boot and went to the close-in fielder. Tom Latham prodded forward to defend on what he thought would turn, but the ball straightened up and rapped him on pads in front of off. Kane Williamson became Ravichandran Ashwin’s 200th wicket in his Test career, with the right-arm spinner once again getting one turn sharply into the batsmen, hitting the pads in front of the wickets.

Ross Taylor was furious for being at the receiving end of a dubious leg-before decision in the first innings. However, whoever expected him to make it big in the second innings, it was a wrong thought. Attempting a sharp single, he did not drag his bat in as a throw came in rapidly by Umesh Yadav at the non-striker’s end in the 22nd over. The bat remained in the air, well inside the crease though, when the bails were dislodged.

At stumps, Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner were holding the fort for the Kiwis. But their challenge will be to face a freshened Indian bowlers, moreover their spinners, after overnight rest. New Zealand do not have a lot of batting left; post this pair there is BJ Watling who struggled for fitness and then there is their tail.

(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)

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