India vs New Zealand | Ashwin spins India to win in first Test

Brief Scores: India 318 all out and 377/5 dec (Pujara 78(152), Vijay 76(170); Santner 2/79) defeated New Zealand 262 all out and 236 all out (Ronchi 80(120), Santner 71(179); Ashwin 6/132, Shami 2/18) by 197 runs.

When the final day began, it was just a matter of time before India would take the 1-0 lead in the series. But the overnight pair of Luke Ronchi and Mitch Santner tried their best to delay the inevitable by taking the Indian bowlers to cleaners.

Jadeja, who was on a roll in the first innings, first accounted for Ronchi by inviting him to play a tossed up delivery just after the drinks break. Ronchi, who was playing with a lot of composure until then, lost his concentration and edged the ball to Ashwin at point. After the fall of Ronchi, New Zealand couldn’t manage to stick on the wicket and started losing wicket after wicket.

Mohammed Shami, who is playing his first game on home soil after more than a year, lived up to his billing. With a delivery which swung more than expected, he caught BJ Watling plumb in front. He then came back to take the wicket of Mark Craig with an absolute ripper. Craig didn’t have any clue to tackle that and left a big gap between bat and pad only to be castled for one.

Ashwin, who had already made the 500th Test of the nation memorable by taking his 200th Test wicket, came back for more in the second session of the final day to scalp the last three wickets of the opposition to help India take the series lead at 1-0.

Mitch Santner, whose batting was one for the sore eyes to enjoy today, failed to understand the bounce and turn of Ashwin and gave an outside edge to Rohit Sharma standing near gully. He had until then scored 71 runs studded with only two fours and a solitary six as he tackled every Indian bowler with absolute ease on his way to his maiden Test half century.

Ashwin then accounted for Mark Craig to secure his 19th Test fifer and subsequently caught Wagner plumb in front to wrap off the things.

Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged as the Man of the match for his sensible all-round display.