India Vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 3: Ravindra Jadeja’s stunning five-for bundles Kiwis out for 262

India's Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja catch New Zealand in trance with stunning spin-bowling. bundling Kiwis out for 262 in the 1st innings.

What was expected in the last session of Day Two was seen in the first two sessions of Day Three. Just like India, New Zealand lost wickets in quick succession. The batsmen who were untroubled by spin were trapped in a maze. All of a sudden, the ball started turning square. And in no time, the momentum shifted to the home team. However, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham were unbeaten on Day Two, taking New Zealand to 152 for 1. They were dominant, but the job was half done. They still needed 166 runs to get past India’s total. Eventually, the visitors were bundled out for 262, thanks to Ravindra Jadeja‘s stunning five-for.

Virat Kohli’s men cascaded from 154 for 1 to 318 all-out. They were going great guns until the second session of Day One. It was the third session that saw them fell prey to New Zealand’s collective bowling effort. On the other hand, New Zealand were in a similar situation. It was the third session that India were keen to get into. They knew they had warmed up by then. They knew they had found the right length to bowl on Green Park’s track. However, rain played spoilsport, forcing the umpires to call it a day post tea. All in all, New Zealand had an upper hand.

The same scenario was expected this morning. Williamson and Latham had laced 124 runs for the second wicket. The duo had mastered Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja. They had already made them look ordinary. The ball was not doing much either. Also read: Ross Taylor dismissed for duck; trolled on Twitter

Kohli started off with Jadeja on a warm morning. The sun shone bright. And the weekend had just started. It was game time. Latham was on strike. Jadeja hit good length. The ball bit the dust. Latham left it alone. Two deliveries later, Williamson was at the crease. Jadeja, with his round-arm action, angled the ball in, drawing Williamson forward. There was turn and bounce. The ball beat Williamson’s outside edge. There were clear signs of ferocious turn. The drama had already built up in the first over.

One wicket, and India were likely to be in the driver’s seat.

Ashwin came from the other end. Kohli did not want to take any half measures. There’s was anxiety on Ashwin’s face. He was itching to turn the ball. And he did so. He fired a quicker one. The ball gripped the pitch, turning temptingly away from Latham.

The fielders were motivated. They smelled a wicket. The commentators were on the edge of their seats. There was excitement all around. “Game on, folks,” said the cricket-fanatic in me.

Jadeja bowled a maiden over. Yes, finally he gained his lost paradise. Pressure mounted on New Zealand. The ball was in Ashwin’s hand once again. Latham was itching to score runs, the way he did on Day Two. But he was against the might of Ashwin, India’s numero uno bowler. Also read: Ganguly: Give newly-elected selectors some time

Ashwin set Latham up. He bowled slower through the air, on middle-and-off. He then shortened his length, beating Latham’s outside edge. Fielders around the bat started cheering for Ashwin, and came the breakthrough. Ashwin drifted the ball in, luring him to come onto the front foot. The ball held its line and trapped Latham in front. The expression on Ashwin’s face unleashed the anger he had bottled up yesterday. India’s staggering bowler finally got a wicket.

The scorecard read 159 for 2.

The stalwart Ross Taylor was at the crease. He knew what happens when Team India is high on confidence. All the same, he was victimised by the worst case scenario. Jadeja sent him back to the pavilion. The ball did not turn. Yet again, it held its line. Yet again, a New Zealand batsman was trapped in front.

Williamson was batting on 72. You saw his teammates getting caught in trance with India’s magical spin-bowling. As a matter of fact, he was no exception either. He joined his team in the pavilion as well.

Ashwin tossed it up way outside off. Williamson stationed himself behind the ball. The ball sharply spun in, so much so that it dismantled Williamson’s strong defence. That left everyone startled. It’s a dismissal an off-spinner dreams of. In addition, it was Williamson’ wicket. New Zealand were 170 for 5. They had lost three wickets in a matter of 19 runs. Also read – Agarkar: Indian pacers will get better with experience

Luke Ronchi, who scored a fiery hundred against Mumbai last week, was in the middle with Mitchell Santner. All of a sudden, it seemed as if every delivery would yield a wicket. However, New Zealand needed someone to take them out of the trouble. On the the other hand, there was no stopping the rampaging Indians.

Meanwhile, Ronchi continued with his natural strokeplay. He cut, drove and punched. He had come with an intent to score runs. And he did so in style. In tough conditions, he was churning out runs with ease. Along with Santner, he added 49 runs for the fifth wicket. Test cricket was at its best. Also read: When will Guptill justify his spot in Tests?

Nonetheless, his stay was cut short by Jadeja.

He came round the wicket and pitched it full. Ronchi tried to sweep it to fine-leg but ended up drawing his front foot way too forward, eventually getting trapped in front. Now half the New Zealand side was done and dusted.

The onus of eliminating the trail was on Santner and BJ Watling. To remind, the Black Caps deep deep. As a result, India were mindful that they should not take their opposition for granted.

New Zealand went into lunch at 238 for 5, trailing by 80 runs.

However, Jadeja ran through New Zealand’s lower-middle order, taking three wickets in an over. As a matter of fact, coach Anil Kumble would be proud of the left-armer, as the former India captain mastered the art of dismantling the tailenders. India now lead by 56 runs.

Brief Scores

India 318 all-out (Murali Vijay 65, Cheteshwar Pujara 62, Ravindra Jadeja 42*; Trent Boult 3 for 67, Mitchell Santner 3 for 94) lead New Zealand 262 all-out (Kane Williamson 75, Tom Latham 58; Ravindra Jadeja 5 for 73, Ravichandran Ashwin 4 for 93) by 56 runs

Full scorecard

(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, a 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_)

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