India vs New Zealand | India set for victory in first Test
Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay once again notched up a hundred-run partnership as they took India to an almost certain win in the first Test with a 433-run lead on the fourth day. Ravichandran Ashwin then removed the top-three of the Kiwi batting order to set India for certain victory tomorrow.
Brief Scores: India 318 and 377/5d (Vijay 76, Pujara 78; Santner 2/79) vs New Zealand 262 all out and 93/4 in 37 overs ( Ronchi 38, Ashwin 3/68)
India had begun the day on the ascendancy after day 3 had seen the Indian spinners demolish a previously resolute-looking New Zealand batting stand. After spinners Jadeja and Ashwin had run riot, Rahul had contributed his due before Pujara and Vijay had taken over.
Pujara-Vijay-Kohli repeat
The duo had been chiefly responsible for India's first-innings lead on a pitch that has been tricky to bat on with the spinners getting a lot on offer. Joining hands once again, they had added only 26 runs to their overnight partnership before Vijay fell first. Santner 's slider had caught Vijay right in front of the off-stump after the batsman played for spin when the ball did not – Vijay had gotten some bat on it, but only after the ball had hit the pads.
Virat Kohli came and stayed on for slightly longer than his first innings. The Indian skipper was tentative and should have been out at 6 playing an indecisive shot off Santner, but the ball missed his stumps narrowly. Kohli was tormented again and again by Santner at 11 and 17, but he survived those scares finally to fall to Craig. Kohli's impatience pushed him into a sweep that only ended in a top-edge to deep midwicket. Pujara followed soon at 78 falling to a catch in the slip by Taylor off Sodhi leaving India at 228/4.
Sharma and Jadeja
Questions about why Rohit Sharma is in the squad received a short answer today as the stylish batsman pushed India's lead higher in the company of Ajinkya Rahane and then Ravindra Jadeja. Rahane looked solid as he reached 40 runs, but was done in by a turning delivery delivery that caught the edge before Taylor pulled off his third catch of the innings, with a stunning dive to his right. However, Rohit and Jadeja, who was sent ahead in search of quick runs went after the bowling. Jadeja in particular blasted the bowlers scoring three sixes in his 58 runs as the duo reached their 100 run- partnership in no time before Kohli declared at 377-5.
Kiwis collapse
There never was any question of a Kiwi win after that 433-run target on a pitch that was asking questions on every ball that was bowled. And there never was any chance with India's spinners in top form. Ravichandran Ashwin provided the answers as early as the fourth over of the Kiwi innings – Guptill was his first victim as the flashy opener went for a sweep only to find an inside edge that hit the pads before ballooning to silly point. He then took out Latham four balls later with a peach of a delivery that caught the opener in front of the stumps.
Ashwin then removed skipper Williamson who had looked set for a fightback innings – a quick delivery snuck in sees Williamson missing the line completely to be caught with his foot in front of the wicket. That also brought up the Indian's 200th test wicket making him the second-fastest ever to get to the mark.
Ross Taylor disappointed once again run out for 17 runs after failing to ground the bat despite reaching the end ahead of time. However, Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner saw out the day for the visitors without further damage, although it can only be a matter of time before India take the lead in this Test series with a win tomorrow.
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