- Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Pramod Kumar
AXAR PATEL’s five wickets on the third day of the first Test in Kanpur wrapped New Zealand’s first innings at 296 on Saturday (27) in reply to India’s 345.
Patel and other Indian spinners — Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja — clawed back in the last two sessions of the day after a strong New Zealand start.
The visitors were 249-6 at tea and lost Tom Blundell to Patel for 13 off 94 balls in the sixth over after the break.
Left-arm spinner Patel bowled Tim Southee for five to complete his five-for and leave the visitors struggling at 270-8.
Ashwin took the last two wickets of the innings to finish his 42.3 over spell giving away 82 runs for three scalps.
Kyle Jamieson was caught off Ashwin for 23 and William Somerville was clean bowled by the offspinner to end the Black Caps’ innings.
Ashwin and Patel denied centuries to Kiwi openers — Tom Latham and Will Young — who closed the day on Friday at 129 for 0.
Latham was stumped by substitute wicketkeeper K.S Bharat off Patel’s bowling for a grinding 95 off 282 balls.
Young, who shared a 151-run opening stand with Latham, fell 11 short off his maiden international century after edging Ashwin to Bharat.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson fell leg-before to pacer Umesh Yadav for 18 off 64 balls just before lunch, leaving the visitors on 197-2.
India’s spinners, especially Patel and Ashwin, then looked more potent on the third-day wicket with the second new ball, bowling tight lines and offering little to the batters.
Ross Taylor survived a missed stumping by K.S Bharat off Axar’s bowling before edging the same bowler to the substitute wicketkeeper a few overs later, departing for 11 off 28 balls.
Henry Nicholls was given leg-before to Patel for 2 and Latham fell for 95, leaving the visitors at 227-5.
Ravindra Jadeja bowled debutant Rachin Ravindra for 13 off 23 balls to firmly check the New Zealand advance in the first Test.
Young started the day from his overnight score of 75 and looked assured before edging Ashwin to Bharat on 89 off 214 balls.
The 29-year-old hit 15 fours in a solid Black Caps reply after Tim Southee’s five-for on the second day restricted India to 345 all out.
Latham survived a close call on 66 when stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane — stepping in for the rested Virat Kohli — failed to review a leg-before appeal off Ashwin’s bowling.
Jadeja bowled 33 overs for 57 runs and Patel, India’s most effective spinner, bowled 34 overs for 62 runs and 5 wickets.
Yadav, who took India’s second new ball with Patel, bowled 18 overs for 50 runs and Williamson’s wicket.
Sharma went wicket-less for 35 runs in his 15 overs.
(AFP)
