India v New Zealand, 3rd Test, Day 3 - 5 Talking Points

It was another day of Test match which was dominated by India after the hosts, riding on the brilliance of Ravichandran Ashwin, bowled out New Zealand for just 299. With a massive 557 runs first inning total to overhaul, the Kiwis got off to a positive start with openers martin Guptill and Tom Latham playing with command in the first session. But, India soon made a comeback into the match with help of Ravi Ashwin’s guileful spell of 6/81 to bowl out the visitors 276 runs short of their quest of Indi’s total after being 118/1 at one stage.

1.Guptill and Latham give a strong start:

With a mountain of runs to climb, New Zealand required their openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham give a good start to the 2nf innings. The opener did not let their team down and showed solid resilience to keep the Indian at bay at the start of the day. The right hand – left-hand pair came out and added an 118 for the opening wicket and give a positive start to their quest of reaching the mammoth 557 runs first innings total made by India.

Guptill, who had a silent run in this series so far, made a patient 72 run while Latham registered his second half-century of the series, hitting 53. The pair’s sensible approach made the contest look interesting and it seemed that the Kiwis have finally adapted to the conditions and have figured out how to cope with the Indian bowlers.

2. New Zealand collapse:

The morning session completely belonged to New Zealanders. The Indian bowlers were made to work hard in the first session as Guptill and Latham played them out without facing much of a problem. It seemed that New Zealand came prepared with a plan to give a strong reply. But, things became awry soon from the next session as Ravi Ashwin began weaving his magic once again.

The champion off-spinner triggered a collapse in the middle order. He snapped three quick wickets in the space of two overs to put India in command. It all began after he managed to force Williamson to commit a mistake and chop on a ball straight to the stumps in the 43rd over. The 44th over saw him remove Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill in back to back to deliveries. While Taylor fell LBW to him, Guptill had to depart in an awful way after he was run out at the non-strikers end.

3. Neesham fights alone battle:

Apart from the openers Guptill and Latham, Only Jimmy Neesham could make any significant impact with the bat. The seam bowling all-rounder came in at a very nervous situation after Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill lost their wickets in one single over.

Luke Ronchi also lost his wicket just after his arrival. Suddenly the stable looking inning was crumbling. Neesham stood tall at this moment and played wonderfully with the lower order to help New Zealand survive a bit longer than anticipated. The right-hander hit a well – compiled 71 run knock and knitted small partnerships with BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner to make sure his team does not fall like nine pins.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin spins his magic:

Ravichandran Ashwin continued to dominate the opposition. After being kept searching for wickets in the morning session, Ashwin bowled like a menace and end the day registering his 20th five wicket haul snapping figures of 6/81. The Kiwis looked in all sorts of troubles against him and crumbled to 299 after being 118/1 at one stage.

Ashwin snapped wickets in bunches. his wicket taking spree began in the 35th wicket when he broke the frustrating opening wicket stand between Guptill and Latham with the wicket of the latter. He remained quite for some time afterwards and triggered a collapse with the wicket of Guptill, Taylor and Williamson in short successions. All-rounder Jimmy Neesham became his fifth victim before folded up the Black Caps inning with the wicket of the last man standing Trent Boult.

5. Gautam Gambhir retired hurt:

Virat Kohli decided against enforcing a follow-on after wrapping up New Zealand 276 runs short of their first inning total. The decision meant Gambhir had to get ready for another chance to create an impact in the match after a low comeback in the first innings.

But, it was been murmured that he may not come out to bat due to the shoulder injury he picked up while fielding. However, everything seemed fine eventually as he walked out to bat at his normal position with Vijay. There were only six overs to survive. But, unfortunately, the left-hander could not survive those over after he hurt his arm in the 3rd over of the innings while diving. There was pain visible on his face immediately and the physio had to rush in to have look who decided to take him off the field as the injury looked bad.