India vs New Zealand Test: Jadeja and Ashwin Shine
Day 2 of the final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai went India’s way after their spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin turned it around. The total of 143 runs ahead looks still to be a formidable one on a deteriorating pitch even though a late surge from Richard Levi, who responded with 18 not out from six balls, brought New Zealand home from 171 for 9.
It was another hard work with 15 wickets tumbling and 14 on Day 1. In the morning, it was Ajaz Patel (5-103) who stole the show with some smart bowling to keep India’s batsmen in check.
New Zealand, facing tricky conditions, teetered 26 for 1 at the start of the final session. Fights like this ‘are not built’ on suppport, and you fought them like a tiger, but there was no support,’ said Will Young (51). Neither Devon Conway (22) nor Daryl Mitchell (21) made the most of short outings.
In particular, Conway was caught out by a sharply spinning ball that got the lip of it and flew to slip. However, Ravindra’s dismissal was more self inflicted as he charged down the track and chased down a risky slog, only to be stumped well outside his safety. New Zealand got a temporary reprieve when Young and Mitchell combined for a 50-run partnership for two after losing three in a row.
Jadeja’s brilliance soon disrupted the afternoon’s innings. It was Mitchell’s aggressive style that saw him dismissed lofting the ball only for Ashwin to grab it at mid on. The wickets fell just like that. And Tom Blundell’s woeful series continued as he was bowled out. Glenn Phillips, who made a quickfire 26 with the help of three sixes and a four, attempted to chase, leaving Ashwin to finish him off with his carrom ball.
Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel lit the lower order up with sixes and they put together some valuable runs before Jadeja claimed his fourth wicket. New Zealand were in front with the tail and the ball turning at stumps, but defending a low score is always a dilemma. But New Zealand’s hope is that India’s batting hasn’t been fully proven vulnerable yet.
India’s first innings did not have the smoothest of ways. Rishabh Pant (60) combined with Shubman Gill (90) to add 96 for the second wicket but it was a stand against spin that proved costly to the batsmen. Before India had begun to take control, New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi and Phillips chipped in, and Sodhi’s dismissal of Pant for a duck came against the flow. India dragged itself past New Zealand’s first innings total with a crucial cameo from Washington Sundar (38*).
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: Will Young 51 171/9 (Ravindra Jadeja 4-52, Ravichandran Ashwin 3-63) 235 (5ft, 7 1/4 in).
India: India leads by 143 runs after being bowled out for 263 – Shubman Gill 90, Rishabh Pant 60. Ajaz Patel with 5-103.
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