Day 3: Kiwis under pressure to save test

New Zealand ended day 3 with the loss of  5 wickets for 140 runs after Ajaz Patel’s 14 wicket haul in the match.

New Zealand still needs 400 more runs to win but it is looking almost impossible for New Zealand to save this match right now.

India    1st innings   325 all-out

Agarwal 150 (311)            A. Patel 10-119                                                                                                               Axar        52  (128)

New Zealand  1st innings   62 all-out 

Jamieson 17 (36)       Ashwin 4-8                                                                                                                        Latham    10 (14)       Siraj      3-19

India       2nd innings     276-7 Dec

Agarwal  62 (108)       A. Patel  4-106                                                                                                                                          Pujara     47 (75)         Ravindra 3-56

New Zealand   2nd innings     140-5

Mitchell  60 (92)        Ashwin 3-27                                                                                                                     Nicholls 36*(86)       Axar      1-42 

India needs just 5 more wickets to win this match now.

New Zealand will either have to chase down the target of 540 runs or to survive the next 2 days to draw this match, which looks unlikely.

The Indian top-order batted brilliantly in the second innings.

Agarwal and Pujara started aggressively and had an opening partnership of 107.

Mayank continued his first innings form by compiling a well-made 62.

Pujara finally struck a semblance of form by making 47 before becoming Ajaz Patel’s second victim of the innings.

Gill and Virat Kohli continued the good work and both batted beautifully but unfortunately, both of them failed to score a 50.

Gill scored 47 runs while Virat was dismissed by Rachin Ravindra after scoring 36 runs.

India lost some quick wickets before declaring the innings on 276 runs, giving a target of 540 runs to the Black Caps.

Ajaz Patel again bowled superbly as he picked up 4 wickets in the second innings as well. 

Ajaz Patel bragged 14 wickets in the match and it is the most number of wickets by any bowler in a single Test match against India.

Ajaz was the lone warrior in the first innings but he finally got some support from the other left-arm spinner, Rachin Ravindra who picked up 3 wickets in the second innings.

Rachin Ravindra dismissed Virat, Gill, and Saha after the tea break. 

Ashwin’s brilliance 

Ashwin was once again brilliant with the new ball as he picked up the important wicket of Tom Latham in just the fourth over of the innings.

Ashwin continued to bowl beautifully and dismissed Will Young and Ross Taylor to further damage the New Zealand batting lineup.

The experienced Ross Taylor failed badly in the whole series and never looked comfortable against the spinners.

Daryl Mitchell who replacing Kane Williamson in this match, played a superb knock today.

Daryl Mitchell played against the spinners confidently and he used his feet several times against them to disturb their line and length, similar to what Mayank Agarwal did in this entire match.

Mitchell scored 60 runs before getting caught on Axar Patel’s delivery.

Mitchell was supported by Henry Nicholls who too struggled against spinners throughout his innings.

He is still not out on 36 runs and he will be hoping to get his fifty tomorrow.  

It is a great opportunity for Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra to show their fighting spirit though saving the match might be beyond them.