India Vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 3: All-round India wrestle back control against Kiwis at Kanpur
All-round India wrestle back control against Kiwis at Kanpur
India ended Day Three of the first Test against New Zealand at 159 for 1, leading by 215 runs. Be it pacer scalping a three-for, batsmen scoring staggering fifties and a spinner dominating the batsmen, we have witnessed quality cricket so far. More importantly, the track offered help for batsmen as well as pacers. All the same, while Day One belonged to India, New Zealand dominated Day Two and were expected to carry the momentum on Day Three as well. However, Indian spin unit obliterated New Zealand, and skittled them out for 262.
Given the lead, India were ahead in the race. They were mindful that they need not get carried away, like they did in the 1st innings despite the top order laying a solid foundation. All the same, KL Rahul started off the second innings in a similar fashion. He played his shots with conviction. His foot work, like it has been in the last six months, was flawless. In addition, he did not allow the spinners to settle down, taking them to the cleaners. However, while maintaining the momentum, he lost his concentration. And yet again, he edged the ball behind the wickets. Be that as it may, he gave India a positive start, setting the scoreboard on fire.
Umpires decided to take Tea, as India were 52 for 1.
The Pujara-Vijay duo was in the middle, the one who stitched up 112-run partnership for the second wicket in the first innings. While others struggled to find their feet, they had no trouble keeping the scoreboard ticking. In the second innings, they emulated the same. However, this time, there was more force and vigour. Pujara, especially, dictated terms to the New Zealand spinners. Every time there was a bad delivery on offer, he made sure he puts it away to the boundary line. He picked up the length well, read the flight and used his feet to decimate the spin factor. Also read: Ross Taylor dismissed for duck; trolled on Twitter
Vijay, on the other hand, applied himself sensibly. In fact, his first boundary came of his 34th ball. It was a thick outside edge over wide first-slip. Although it was not convincing, it fetched him the much-needed runs. That was the only time he looked uneasy at the crease. Gradually, as he got his eye in, he played his strokes to perfection. A reverse-sweep, off-drive, inside-out stroke, late-cut, heave over mid-wicket: he did not shy away from playing some delightful strokes. He soon brought his 14th half half-century off 106 deliveries.
By now he was comfortable at the crease (of course, this was his consecutive half-century). He was clear and precise on his shot selection. He stepped down the tracked and whacked Mark Craig’s loop delivery over deep mid-wicket.
Meanwhile, Pujara continued his commanding performance, so much so that his strike rate once read over 70.
It was an encore of the first innings. Vijay and Pujara yet again provided the impetus. The foundation was already laid. All the middle-order needs to do is follow the duo’s brand of cricket, putting up enough runs for New Zealand to chase until tea on Day Four. Also read: Ganguly: Give newly-elected selectors some time
All the same, Ravindra Jadeja stole the show this morning with his remarkable bowling display. He prevailed over New Zealand’s weakness of playing spin. Although he struggled on Day Two, he made sure he learns what line and length Green Park track commands.
His first victim was Ross Taylor. He trapped the New Zealander in front. Flatter trajectory is something Taylor has not mastered yet, it seemed. Even before he could bring his bat down, the ball had hit his pads.
The in-form Luke Ronchi was his second scalp. Ronchi was set on 32 off 106 balls. The cricketer who takes the bull by its horn was on a defensive mode. The might of Ashwin-Jadeja pair kept him at bay. He still managed to play crisp strokes through off-side. Nonetheless, Jadeja was in no non-sense mood. He trapped Ronchi lbw as well.
Thus far, Ashwin had more wickets than Jadeja.
The momentum had shifted to India with New Zealand stuttering at 255 for 6. It was about time that India skittle out the visitors. It reminded us of the good old days when Anil Kumble ran through the tailenders to give his team the psychological advantage. Jadeja, as a matter of fact, did the same. He picked up 3 wickets in an over. Also read – Agarkar: Indian pacers will get better with experience
With the help of his round-arm action, he fooled the New Zealanders into playing on the back foot.
The first to fall for his strategy was Craig. He rocked back thinking ball would bounce. But given Jadeja’s height, the batsman was ought to stay low. The umpire judged him lbw.
Next one to go was Ish Sodhi. Similar delivery and similar mode of dismissal. Jadeja, now, was on a hat-trick. To face the challenge was Trent Boult. He survived. He, in fact, survived one more delivery before he edged one to Rohit Sharma at short forward-leg. Rohit’s catch, for a while, stole Jadeja’s thunder. He had to stoop low to pouch. What applaudable was his timing. Also read: When will Guptill justify his spot in Tests?
India needed one more wicket. Ashwin bowled from the other end. He dismissed BJ Watling, giving India a 56-run lead.
India’s reply was strong. They made their intention clear. They were there to dominate. At the end of Day Three, India accumulated a lead of 215 runs, pushing New Zealand on the back foot.
Brief Scores
India 318 all-out (Murali Vijay 65, Cheteshwar Pujara 62; Trent Boult 3 for 67) and 159 for 1 (Mural Vijay 64*, Cheteshwar Pujara 50*; Ish Sodhi 1 for 29) lead New Zealand 262 all-out (Kane Williamson 75, Tom Latham 58; Ravindra Jadeja 5 for 73, Ravichandran Ashwin 4 for 93) by 215 runs
(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, reporter at CricketCountry, played cricket at U-16 level. Like his idol Rahul Dravid, he often shadow-practises cricket shots. His Twitter handle is @kaumedy_)