Kanpur: Riding on Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul (5-73) and Ravichandran Ashwin’s superb spell (4-93), India restricted New Zealand to 262 in their first innings on Day 3 of the first Test at Green Park, here on Saturday.
Later, India finished the day at 159/1, with Cheteshwar Pujara (50 not out) and Murali Vijay (64 not out) scoring half centuries. Pujara scored his second half century of the match which has put India at a commanding position with 215-run lead over New Zealand.
New Zealand started their day at 152 for one but Indian spinners soon came into play and claimed three wickets in the space of 29 balls that sent visitors on the back-foot. Ashwin removed both the overnight batsmen -- Tom Latham (58) and captain Kane Williamson (75) -- while left-arm spinner Jadeja got rid of dangerman Ross Taylor (0) and Luke Ronchi (38) as the Green Park pitch offered turn and bounce this morning.
Thereafter, Ashwin got rid of Mitchell Santner (32) and Jadeja followed suit by taking the wickets of Mark Craig (2) and IS Sodhi (0). Jadeja was on a hat-trick but Trent Boult survived a ball to return to the pavilion on the very next from Jadeja for a naught. Soon Bredley Walting (21) was caught and bowled by Ashwin and the New Zealand innings folded at 262.
Meanwhile Day 2 had belonged to to Kane Williamson and Tom Latham as the Kiwis were 152 for one in reply to India’s 318 before rain played spoilsport in the last session at Green Park, here on Friday.
Tom Latham (56*) and skipper Kane Williamson (66*) scored unbeaten half-centuries during their 117-run second-wicket stand, sweeping the Indian spinners – R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja -- at will on a pitch which at times provided turn to the bowlers.
Earlier, the hosts, on resumption, had added 27 runs in seven overs in the morning session.
Earlier on day 1, after a respectful start from KL Rahul and Murali Vijay (42/1) and an over hundred (112 runs) run partnership between Vijay and Cheteshwar Punjara for the second wicket, India squandered their chances of setting a big target as they lost nine wickets for 291.