On a sunny Sunday, Virat Kohli completed his second century even as a total of 14 wickets fell in front of a near-packed stadium- all of which indicated that India were in an advantageous position in the second Test.
At close, New Zealand were 244 runs ahead with one wicket remaining in their second innings, after they took a 12-run first-innings lead, thanks largely to pacer Tim Southee's career-best seven wicket burst – the best by a New Zealand bowler in an innings in India – at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In the second innings, New Zealand were 232 for nine, with Jeetan Patel (10) and Trent Boult (0) at the crease.
Meanwhile The Times Of India writes that after yet another thrilling day's play, a day made better by the presence of a near 25,000-strong Sunday crowd, the second and final Test is poised such that it could still go either way.
With runs on the board, the lead having swelled to 244 at close on the third day, if at all one team has the slight upper hand, it has to be New Zealand but the Indians could change that with a couple of good partnerships when their turn comes to bat a second time.
The Kiwis, having closed the day on 232 for 9, have a mere wicket in the bag, four less than the Indians had at the beginning of the brightest day so far in the game, one that allowed most of the action to be played out under natural light.
India's overnight batsmen duly got past their individual landmarks, Virat Kohli getting to his hundred with the last ball of the first over with the second new ball, while Dhoni had gone past 50 with the first ball of the same over. But both soon fell to New Zealand's standout bowler Tim Southee, Kohli going first, immediately after his second Test century (103, 284m, 193b, 14x4, 1x6) when he chose to leave a ball headed straight to the stumps to be caught plumb in front.
He was struck outside off but since he hadn't attempted to use his bat, Steve Davis was quick to raise his finger. With Dhoni (62, 170m, 94b, 8x4, 2x6) it wasn't such a straightforward decision but to umpire Davis' enormous credit, he picked up on the fact that the incoming ball struck the pad first before hitting the bat.
Meanwhile Indian Express writes that after conceding a slender 12-run lead, Ashwin snared five for 69 to restrict New Zealand to 232 for nine on an action-packed third day which saw as many as 14 wickets fall at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. India will now look to wrap up the innings as quickly as possible and push for a 2-0 series win with two full days still left in the match.
Ashwin got rid of Kruger van Wyk, James Franklin and Tim Southee in quick succession before Pragyan Ojha dsmissed Bracewell to peg back the visitors. The burly Tamil Nadu offie began post-tea session by claiming Daniel Flynn's wicket soon after tea for 31 (65 balls 4s-6) caught at first slip by Virender Sehwag while trying to run the ball down to third man.
Pacer Umesh Yadav also gave able support to Ashwin by providing two vital breakthroughs sending back openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum in the post-lunch session.
A report in The Hindu says that in the final analysis India will emphatically see this as its day. New Zealand leads by 244 runs with the last pair at the wicket, and on a surface this anodyne, there is no need to fret over chasing these scores. Neither side had been definitively on top at tea, when the tourist was 135 ahead and four down, but R. Ashwin’s simple ambush swung the contest.
Three New Zealand wickets the off-spinner took in the final session, to finish the day with five for 69. He remains one dismissal away from his 50th, and a splendid way to cap off this rampant series it would be too, should he get there on the fourth morning.
The visitor had begun its second innings 12 runs ahead, a margin that would have been greater but for Ashwin’s sensible batting in the rearguard. Umesh Yadav had not made much of an impression with the ball in the first essay, but sharing the new ball with Zaheer Khan, turned in an appreciably improved effort here.
He bowled full and with a measure of control that had been missing on the first day, and found swift reward. First Martin Guptill inside-edged a full toss onto his legstump before Brendon McCullum nicked off to the ‘keeper (a good delivery it had been, straightening sharply upon pitching).
