India have driven themselves to a dominant position by polishing off the New Zealand top-order but spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says getting wickets would be not easy on Saturday, although, they are eyeing wrapping up the New Zealand innings early, says a report in Indian Express. In response to India's first innings total of 438, New Zealand are struggling at 106 for five with Ashwin dismissing three batsmen, including rival skipper Ross Taylor.
"The new ball was a little bit hard and the seam was much more upright, something that helped us extract bounce and enabled us get a few wickets up front. As the ball gets old, it would slow up a little bit and we have to be more patient to get wickets tomorrow. But we have to stick to our plans and would look to wrap up the innings quickly," Ashwin said after second day's play.
"Wrapping up early would mean we should be eyeing a follow-on. With respect to how the wicket is behaving and the weather being a little cloudy, we should be looking to bowl twice and get the job done," he added.
Meanwhile The Times Of India reports that the lanky off-spinner, who has just played six Tests, continues to impress in the five-day version of the game as well. Ashwin yet again had the opposition on the backfoot as he spun a web of deceit around the New Zealanders who had no answer to his variations. He finished the day with three for 30 after claiming the wickets in his first five overs. At one point of time his figures read 5-1-6-3.
"I think the new ball was a little hard and the seam was a little more upright when we spinners started bowling. That helped us get a bit of bounce and get a few wickets up front. As the ball got older, it was slowing up a little bit. We have to be patient to get wickets tomorrow, we will have to stick to our guns and try to wrap up the innings quickly. There is a little bit of bounce if it is slower through the air. Quicker through the air is obviously going nicely on to the bat," he said.
