India vs New Zealand, 1st Test 2016 Highlights, Day 3: Ravichandran Ashwin’s ripper, Ravindra Jadeja’s magic and other highlights

Till the end of Day Two’s play, there were five sessions played and New Zealand had dominated in four of them. At stroke of the tea, Indian spinners had just found the right areas on the pitch but rain spoilt the Kiwi march and a chance for the hosts to come back. With rains good enough to washout a session’s play, there were uncertainty over the track. The popular question was would it be Kane Williamson’s day? Or, would Ravichandran Ashwin dismantle the Kiwis? Ultimately, it proved out to be Ravindra Jadeja’s day as he picked a five-for, ensuring India a massive lead.

The third day of the Test is over and India find themselves in a commanding position, something which was expected on Day One. India finished with 159 for 1 and this means the lead is of 215 and New Zealand will have to play out of their skins to even try and save the Test, which they dominated the first two days. The day that started with Sanjay Bangar’s criticism of New Zealand’s tactics of asking for frequent drinks, also saw some brilliant cricket, some contentious umpiring decisions but overall, it will be unfair to discredit India, who outplayed New Zealand to move to a commanding position. Suvajit Mustafi brings you some magic moments and highlights of Day Three’s play.

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Spin is King, while Ross Taylor flops again: New Zealand made a cautious start to the day. Ashwin struck in the fifth over of the day when he removed Tom Latham leg before. Four balls later, New Zealand’s scorecard looked 160 for 3. Ashwin struck, how Jadeja could be left behind. Ross Taylor’s unsure footwork while defending cost him his wicket. However, it was close and the decision could have gone either way. This was Taylor’s second duck in a row and his dismal run against good team continues. Taylor has now scored 367 runs at 122.33 this year but 364 of them have come against Zimbabwe.

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After Williamson fell to an unplayable turner from Ashwin, New Zealand were soon 170 for 4. In less than 10 overs play of the day, India had already owned the session.

Ashwin wins Round 2 against Williamson: Have we seen it turn so big post-Muttiah Muralitharan days? Ashwin is a magician. Yes, he is.

@ashwinravi99 Magical Delivery !! Look at The Turn \m/

Kane Williamson’s Wicket !! #indvsnz #Ashwin pic.twitter.com/YZQI9bBDyj

— S T R A N G 3 R (@HungryHeartt49) September 24, 2016

So far, Williamson had picked Ashwin’s length well. During the fag end of second session of Day Two, we saw Ashwin troubling Williamson a bit but overall it was the Kiwi skipper who mastered the Indian wizard. Ashwin gave the ball the revs, Williamson went back to cut it, the cherry turned viciously and zipped in as it made its way to the stumps. Williamson could have only been dismissed with a special ball. Here it was.

The end of Luke Ronchi resistance: After the early wickets, Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner held the fort for the next 23.3 overs, putting up 49. The duo tackled the Indian spinners well before Ronchi was adjudged leg-before. First look, it seemed out but replays suggested that it hit him on his back leg. The shot selection was poor no doubt but the ball could have missed the off-stump. Kiwis can afford to cry DRS now. India can defend their reluctance.

The Jadeja Special: When someone like Mark Craig bats at No. 8, you know that the Kiwis bat deep. All he needed to do was support BJ Watling, who was looking comfortable at the other end. Just then Jadeja produced a special over. First he trapped Craig plumb in front of wicket and next ball, Ish Sodhi, uncertain of his footwork was caught in the front too. DRS could have saved him but it may have straightened a bit though. Jadeja was on a hat-trick.

Trent Boult prevented that and survived the next ball too but the last ball of the over, saw him try to defend one, the bat took his edge, boot, and Rohit Sharma, out of all fielders, plucked the ball at silly point before it made its way to kiss the ground. Alertness is not something, which we associate with Rohit, but kudos to him for plucking that.

New Zealand were bowled out for 262. Jadeja finished with a five-for. Among all spinners, who have over 50 wickets in Asia, Jadeja has the best average. Yes even better than Ashwin and Muralitharan. He averages just over 15.

New Zealand innings saw as many as six leg-before, the world record is seven. Six lbws, Jadeja 5 wickets, Ashwin 4 wickets, and India manage an important lead.

Rahul throws it away, again: KL Rahul is in a sublime form. If Latham was sweeping to survive, Rahul was doing the same to make a statement and score at a brisk pace. He brought in a flurry of reverse sweeps too. However, just like the first innings, the Karnataka youngster threw it away after doing all the hard work. At stroke of tea, attempting a late-cut to Sodhi, who got this one to bounce more, Rahul perished after Taylor caught him at the first slip. It was unnecessary. He got 38 from 50 balls.

Sizeable crowd: Dwindling crowd in Test cricket in India is a matter of serious concern. According to the officials, the attendance at Green Park on Saturday was 25,000. The crowd buzz was welcoming. Hopefully, we will see more people turn on Sunday and in other venues as well.

But this has no place in cricket.

These chants are heard whenever the archrivals play but let us not politicise sports.

Vijay-Pujara splendour and the ‘Vijay’ salute: The final session of the day belonged to India courtesy Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara partnership. The duo put on a brilliant partnership of unbeaten 109. Vijay, who was on 14 from 59 balls, while going to tea, looked in some discomfort in the second session. In third session, he stepped up the gear and ended up with 64 not out.

Pujara was brilliant. He counterattacked and finished with 50 not out. His much-criticised strike-rate was again on display. Pujara, who started very aggressively, consumed 80 balls for his 50. His knock was pleasing to eyes and one of the best moments came when Vijay gave a salute to his batting partner.

(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)