India vs New Zealand | Ashwin and Jadeja turn the match in India's favour

Brief Scores: India 318 and 159/1 in 47 overs (Vijay 64*(152), Pujara 50(80); Sodhi 1/29) New Zealand 262 all out in 47 overs (Williamson 75(137); Jadeja 5/73, Ashwin 93/4)

After looking to be cruising at 152/1 at the end of Day 2, New Zealand experienced a sudden collapse and was bowled out for 262 as Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets in a single over. With a first innings lead of 56 runs, the Indian batsmen looked comfortable as Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay scored produced another 100-run partnership, and India's lead swelled to 215 runs.

Jadeja and Ashwin put New Zealand to sword

With some newly practiced shots, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson seemed to have put New Zealand in a commanding position on Day 2 but once Ashwin removed Latham after adding just 7 runs to the overnight score, New Zealand seemed to have lost their way in the match. Jadeja joined the spin tandem as he soon trapped Ross Taylor in front of the wicket thus initiating the Kiwi collapse.

Both the spinner then ran through the New Zealand line up as Jadeja sent back Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, and Trent Boult in a matter of four balls as the Kiwis went from 5/219 to 9/258. Ashwin constantly kept bowling into the rough patches of the pitch as he drained the life out of the New Zealand innings. Ashwin finally removed Watling to end the New Zealand innings at 262.

Pujara and Vijay pile up runs

With the slender lead of 56 runs, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay had few dangerous moments with the new ball as edges flew at regular intervals but the catches just whizzed past the fielders inside the circle. Just before the tea break, Rahul edged Ish Sodhi, and Ross Taylor took a good low catch in the slips. But once Pujara came in along with Vijay after tea, India's dominance was assured.

Both of them started to score freely as the New Zealand spinners hardly extracted any spin in the final session of the game. Pujara took the initiative to go after the bowlers as boundaries came in at a healthy rate. Both Vijay and Pujara completed their respective fifties as the umpires called it a day with India leading by 215 runs at 159/1.