Mumbai: Green Park Stadium witnessed a total turn of tables as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared nine wickets among themselves, putting the host on the pedestal giving it a first innings lead. Soon the stellar partnership of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara stretched the lead of the second innings to 215 on the third day of the Test Series in Kanpur on Saturday.
The highly accoladed partnership of the then focused Kane Williamson-Tom Latham on Friday underwent a turn of events as spinners Ashwin and Jadeja showcased their talent in the best way at a rip off as the kiwis bundled out for 262.
Ashwin after leading a maiden over which set New Zealand’s score at a 159/2 after 51.5 overs, sent Latham out. Jadeja follows making the Kiwis slump from 159/1 to 160/3, seeing Ross Taylor depart for a duck.
Williamson too gets out as Ashwin makes a marvellous delivery. New Zealand stands at 170/4 after 55.4 overs. 19 runs in the first 10 overs with 3 wickets- the kind push India needed.
14 overs bowled by the host team in just half an hour Kiwis now stand at 173/4 after 61 overs.
Luke Ronchi coupled with Mitchell Santner, takes on the next stride of defence for New Zealand with a 198/4 after 68 overs. Game gets more interesting as tension surges for the hosts as the visitor’s Ronchi puts forth its best attacking style.
Ronchi takes care of all the loose balls, as he tackles Jadeja’s straight shot bagging the Kiwis a four as he makes room and cuts it through and covers for a boundary. New Zealand are 207/4 after 73 overs which is soon followed by a maiden over.
Short delivery from Ashwin which gains Ronchi another four, but Jadeja soon gets rid of the uber skilled Ronchi and the score now reads- 219/5 after 79.1 overs.
Ashwin takes his third wicket and sends Santner out after 32 runs, New Zealand are 255/6 after 91.1 overs. A five-wicket haul from Ashwin laces his consistency.
Craig lbw b Jadeja 2(8). Kiwis are 258/7 after 94.2 overs. Jadeja soon pulls out a masterstroke as another ducking episode occurs, sending Sodhi out. New Zealand are 258/8 after 94.3 overs. Jadeja’s consistency should also be brought to light as it’s the fifth wicket as Boult resorts to a duck too.
The spell bound performance of Jadeja gives the host a 56-run lead. New Zealand have now slumped from 255/5 to 262/10.
In the earlier matches, after the win in South Africa, Ravi Shastri, former Team India Director, highly spoke about Ashwin-Jadeja partnership.
When it’s India’s time to bat, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara portrays a score of 64 and 50, with a total 159/1 on board at stumps, with a lead of 215 runs.
The host sees a 13th half century, courtesy- Vijay. Whereas Pujara sees forth eight boundaries in his 36th match, as he records his eight Test fifty.
Ashwin and Jadeja were the crucial instruments to orchestra the Indian win, amounting to a satiating 78 percent wickets taken by all Indian bowlers. A sunny day for India, indeed.