India had not so impressive first two days in its landmark 500th test before the home team made a dramatic comeback on the third day to get in the driver’s seat.
Even after bundling out for a meager 318 in the first innings, India managed to get a healthy first-innings lead of 56-runs after Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin ran through the New Zealand’s batting order on the third day. By stumps, the hosts had swelled the lead to 215 thanks to unbeaten half-centuries from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara.
New Zealand lost 3 wickets in 23 balls at the start of the morning session and post lunch, they dramatically lost their last five wickets in the space of 29 balls, by adding only seven runs to their tally. From 154/2 to getting all out for 262 was the dramatic turn of the day. Ravindra Jadeja picked up another five-wicket haul in Tests whereas R Ashwin shone with 4 wickets to his name.
On a pitch where Ashwin and Jadeja caused all kinds of problems to New Zealanders, the inexperienced New Zealand’s spinners couldn’t trouble the India’s batsmen in the second innings and let them end the day at 159/1. New Zealand’s only wicket came in the last over before tea in the form of KL Rahul.
