IND v NZ, 3rd Test Day 4 Review: Ashwin bowls India to a whitewash win

The Day 4 of the final Test between India and New Zealand began with Team India in a commanding position. They had dominated the proceedings for a major part of the Test thus far. The story wasn’t any different on the 3rd day either. Virat Kohli decided not to enforce the follow-on despite the 258-run lead in the first innings. India got into day 4 at 18/0. However, opener Gautam Gambhir had retired hurt in the wee overs on day 3.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay walked into the middle to resume the proceedings. The duo saw the first few overs cautiously. Just when Vijay looked to accelerate, he was run out on 19 off 42 balls. It was a display of poor cricket from the opener. Vijay pushed the ball through covers. Martin Guptill was quick to back flip it back to the wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

Meanwhile, Vijay was already half way down the pitch. Pujara, on the other hand, knew he isn’t the fastest and won’t make it. He never looked interested in the run. Vijay was lazy in getting back too. He did not put in the dive and just outstretched his bat. While the Kiwis were not very interested in the runout, it was skipper Kane Williamson, who prompted umpire Kumar Dharmasena to go upstairs.

Vijay, too, thought he had made it. But was found short of his crease. In walked Gautam Gambhir to join Pujara. Gambhir looked in an aggressive mode right from the word go.

Gambhir raced to his half century in just 54 balls. It was his first fifty since 2012, his second fastest in Test cricket, and his 22nd overall. He departed a couple of balls later, though. He perished in his attempt to go over extra cover and was caught by Martin Guptill off the bowling of Jeetan Patel. He scored 50 off 56 balls with 6 fours.

Also read – Twitter Reactions: Gautam Gambhir makes a strong comeback with gutsy fifty

Virat Kohli joined Pujara at the crease. And the latter brought up his half century in the last over before the Lunch interval. India resumed the post lunch session with an attacking mindset. Skipper Virat Kohli could not add much to his score and perished soon after the lunch on 17. He was trapped lbw by Jeetan Patel.

Ajinkya Rahane joined Pujara at the crease. Rahane looked in tremendous touch as he came up with exquisite drives. Meanwhile, Pujara also decided to up the ante. Pujara eased past his first ton of the series with a boundary off Jimmy Neesham. It was his 8th Test ton and a much needed one for him on the personal front. Soon after Pujara brought up his century, Virat Kohli declared the innings.

India declared at 216/3 about 45 minutes before the tea, with Pujara unbeaten on 101* off 148 balls with 9 fours and Ajinkya Rahane not out on 23 off 20 balls. New Zealand were set a target of 475 to win.

Kiwi openers Tom Latham and Martin Guptill walked in to bat with an uphill task ahead of them. Latham kicked off in style with a six. However, his stay was cut short soon after as he was caught plumb infront of stumps by Umesh Yadav in the 2nd over of the innings. His departure on 6 saw skipper Kane Williamson walk into bat. A steady hand by Williamson saw New Zealand see through the team to tea on day 4.

New Zealand ended on 38/1 at tea with Williamson on 23* and Guptill on 8*. The play resumed but only to be fatal for the visitors. Williamson’s stay at the crease was cut short soon after as he became Ashwin’s bunny yet again. Williamson was trapped lbw on 27 by Ashwin. Ross Taylor raced to a 25-ball 32 with 5 fours and six before becoming Ashwin’s second scalp.

Luke Ronchi was cleaned up on 15 by Ashwin. The wickets kept tumbling and New Zealand stared right down at an embarrassing defeat. Ashwin found a liking to the wooden work as he disrupted two more times. He got rid of Mitch Santner (14) and then Jeetan Patel (0) to complete yet another five-wicket haul.

Things did not end just there. He bagged another one when he sent Matt Henry packing on a duck to bring the last man Trent Boult at the crease. A bit of frustration followed for the bowlers as the tail hung in there.

Ashwin came back to grab his 7th wicket and a career best figures of 7/59. With the wicket, India won the match by 321 runs and sealed the series 3-0. India now officially move to the top of the ICC Test Rankings.

Brief Scores

India, 1st innings: 557/5 dec (Kohli 211, Boult 2/113)

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

India, 2nd innings: 216/3 dec (Pujara 101*, Patel 2/56)

New Zealand, 2nd innings: 153/10 (Taylor 32, Ashwin 7/59)