New Delhi: Skies opened mid-way into the third day’s play of the first test between India and New Zealand which forced the umpires to abandon the day’s play well ahead of the regulation time.
Following on into the second innings, New Zealand were 41/1 when umpires decided to stop the match due to poor light.
Pragyan Ojha took the first wicket of the second innings after he trapped Martin Guptill in front of the wicket for an individual score of 16.
Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson remained unbeaten on 16 and 3 respectively.
Earlier in the day, the Black Caps coming onto bat at the overnight score of 106 for 5 still requiring 133 to save the follow on were routed for 159, thanks to some disciplined bowling by Indian spin pair of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha.
Indian spinners shared nine wickets amongst them with Ashwin dismissing six New Zealand batsmen whereas Ojha took three. Umesh Yadav accounted for one casualty.
Starting the day’s proceedings James Franklin and Kruger Van Wyk started off cautiously but Wyk soon fell prey to Umesh Yadav.
Wyk’s dismissal exposed the tail and Ojha got their act together to exploit the conditions well and cleaned up the tail-enders without much hassle.
Franklin was the only batsmen who looked at ease against the Indian bowling and top-scored with 43.
Ashwin who returned with figures of 31-6 registered his third fifth wicket, whereas Ojha ended the day with 44-3.
Brief Score:
159 (Franklin 43*, Ashwin 6-31, Ojha 3-44) & 41 for 1, India 438 ( Cheteswar Pujara 159, MS Dhoni 73, Jeetan Patel 100-3, Trent Boult 93-3.
