Much-expected batting collapse of Kiwis; India in driver’s seat

By Mohammed Rumman Khan | NT

New Zealand were four balls away from enjoying lunch in a healthy situation on day three of the first test against India. At 197-1 and with two of NZ’s most prolific batters in their test history ensconced at the crease, the visitors would have been thinking about planning during the break how to ramp up the heat on their rivals in Kanpur. But the least-heralded of India’s bowling lineup, Umesh Yadav, trapped Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson lbw with his best delivery of the test to trigger a decline which saw New Zealand lose 10 wickets for 145 runs to be bowled out for 296.

India grabbed a 49-run first-innings lead after left-arm spinner Axar Patel (5/62) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/82) snapped five and three wickets respectively.

Axar Patel continued his golden run in favourable home conditions, grabbing another five-wicket haul to put India in the driver’s seat.

Tom Latham (95) was the top-scorer for New Zealand while his opening partner Will Young scored 89.

Resuming the day at 129 for no loss, New Zealand couldn’t build up any partnership with Patel rocking the visitors with three wickets in the post-lunch session.

In India’s second over, paceman Kyle Jamieson bowled Shubman Gill to become the fastest New Zealand bowler to reach 50 test wickets.

The day three woes for the visitors came after one of NZ’s best days in test matches in an unforgiving environment, restricting India to 345 batting first and then reaching stumps at 129-0.

After looking worthy of respect but not of fear during the first session, India’s spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja suddenly appeared to be lobbing hand grenades with alarming regularity once Williamson went.

Tom Latham had been the rock of the innings but fell five runs short of his 12th test century when the opener had a rush of blood on 95 as the pressure mounted on him and the Black Caps.

Latham went down the pitch to left-arm spinner Patel and missed his drive, resulting in a stumping by KS Bharat – a substitute wicketkeeper for the start of day three, with initial glovesman Wriddhiman Saha suffering from a sore neck.

The danger man Ross Taylor and gritty Henry Nicholls went cheaply, Tom Blundell was defiant until scuttled by a delivery which skidded through and struck his stumps at shin height while Rachin Ravindra was undone by a beauty by Jadeja for 13 on his test debut. Karnataka Golf Association has announced the new office bearers for the year 2021-22 at the 46th annual general meeting held on November 26.

During the session, Ashwin, who now has become Test cricket’s highest wicket-taker in 2021, was seen involved in an animated discussion with umpire Nitin Menon after he decided to come round the wicket against Williamson and cautioned for walking on the dangerous area on his follow-through, which also obstructed the umpire’s view.

The intention was to create a few roughs with his bowling spikes in the region.

Menon, having understood the motive, had a word with Ashwin and skipper Ajinkya Rahane and after some discussions, normalcy prevailed.

Later at the fag end of the day, Ashwin, who has taken 41 wickets in 2021 in the longest format, cleaned up the visiting team’s tail.