Mumbai Test: India skittle New Zealand out for 62

INDIA came back strongly on the second day of the second Test match against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday (4) to skittle out the visitors for only 62 runs in the first innings.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently became India’s third-highest wicket-taker in Tests, picked four wickets for only 19 runs while pacer Mohammed Siraj claimed three for 19 to leave the Kiwis in a disarray after they came out to bat to reply to India’s 325 in the first innings.

ALSO READ: Ajaz Patel takes all 10 wickets in a Test innings, enters elite club

India did not opt to give New Zealand a follow-on despite taking a lead of 263 runs and scored 69 for no loss in their second outing to take their overall lead to 332 runs with three days left in the match.

India tour of South Africa: 4 T20 internationals postponed

None of the New Zealand batters could put up a resistance against India and bowler Kyle Jamieson was the top scorer with 17. Opener Tom Latham, who is captaining the visitors in this match in place of an injured Kane Williamson, made 10. This is the lowest total for which India have bowled out their opponents in a Test innings (their previous record was bundling out South Africa for 79 in 2015).

For the visitors, however, spinner Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket haul in the first innings remained the high point of the day. The India-born left-arm bowler, joined England’s Jim Laker and India’s Anil Kumble to pick all wickets in a single innings.

India sent Cheteshwar Pujara to open with Mayank Agarwal, the centurion of the first innings, in the second innings and the duo scored relatively briskly to extend the hosts’ lead. Pujara, who bats at No.3, opened the innings as regular opening batter Shubman Gill suffered an injury on his right elbow while fielding.

The first Test was drawn by New Zealand, thanks to some gritty batting by its tail, and the series is tied 0-0 at the moment.

Brief scores: India 325 & 69 for no loss v New Zealand 62