IND v NZ, 3rd Test Day 3 Review: India consolidates massive lead

While Day 2 of the third IND v NZ Test saw the New Zealand openers keep their wickets intact, Day 3 saw the duo put their foot on the accelerator and impress with some aggressive brand of batting. Of course, they were aided and abetted by a few umpiring howlers and a dropped catch, and of course, the fast outfield.

The day began with Virat Kohli opting to give the new ball to Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav. Perhaps he would have expected his pacers to bang the ball, in short, expecting the short ball to trouble the New Zealand batsman. However, the slowness of the wicket was something that made it extremely easy for the New Zealand batsmen to play their shots freely.

The height of the deliveries was perfect for the likes of martin Guptill to get the ball to speed away to the fence. Guptill success meant that Virat Kohli had to change the plans by bringing in the spinners a little prematurely. The spinners initially brought a sense of calm into the scheme of things by stemming the hemorrhage of runs from the bat of Martin Guptill.

However, this time, it was time for Tom Latham to step up to the plate. The confidence he showed in the previous Test meant that he was prepared and well equipped to face the baptism of the Indian spinners. The duo stitched New Zealand’s first 100-run partnership of the series. The duo was on the receiving end of several acrimonious incidents when the Indians dropped a few catches, the most prominent of which came involving the safest catcher in the Indian side – Ajinkya Rahane.

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Tom Latham was the only wicket to fall after he was beaten by the flight from a rising delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin shortly after he brought up his half-century. An outside edge from Latham saw the ball scoop back towards Ashwin as he calmly accepted the catch to fast-track the lunch break interval. At lunch, it was Guptill who was unbeaten on 59.

The post-lunch session, however, was an entirely different story. Virat Kohli and his men looked absolutely rejuvenated as Ravichandran Ashwin looked as though he was ready to create some havoc. And he did precisely that.

He began with his customary wicket of Kane Williamson when the New Zealand skipper’s defenses were breached. This well and truly created the opening for what began a middle-order collapse. Ross Taylor and Luke Ronchi were soon to be dismissed before a stroke of bad luck ensured that Martin Guptill was dismissed soon after.

BJ Watling’s inability to play spin was well-documented when he was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja at the stroke of lunch. The only shining light as far as the Kiwis were concerned was the batting of Jimmy Neesham, their returning all-rounder.

The final session of the day saw Ravi Ashwin complete yet another five-wicket haul and help the Indians wrap up proceedings of the New Zealand 1st innings. Once again, Jimmy Neesham was the only one who looked at the bigger picture of helping the visitors avoiding the follow-on.

However, this seemed to be a bridge too far as he too was snapped up by a Ravichandran Ashwin blinder. Matt Henry and Jeetan Patel fought the Indians with a barrage of fours and sixes. Perhaps it was their way of showing that this was perhaps the last stand of sorts as far as the New Zealanders were concerned. However, it was soon snuffed out by the unassuming Indians as they decided against enforcing the follow-on.

Looking to give the tiring Indian bowlers a much-needed rest, Virat Kohli decided to set the target rather than chasing. A few eyebrows were raised when Gautam Gambhir made his way out to bat along with Murali Vijay despite his shoulder injury, a terrible predicament for a batsman.

However, in spite of showing some guts by overlooking the injury, a dive to save his wicket meant that the 33-year old southpaw could not bat further, meaning that Cheteshwar Pujara would have to assist Murali Vijay in seeing out the day, something the 28-year old succesfully accomplished.

Brief Scores

India, 1st innings: 557/5 dec

New Zealand, 1st innings: 299 all out (M Guptill 72; R Ashwin 6/81)

India, 2nd innings: 18/0

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