India ended the 3rd day of the 3rd test in a commanding position. After bowling out New Zealand for 299 runs in the first innings. Indian team scored 18 runs with a lead of 258 runs. Apart from Guptill and Neesham no New Zealand batsmen contributed which led them to be dismissed after a good start by their openers.
- Good start by New Zealand openers
Starting the day on 28 for 0, the New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Latham gave the team a solid start with good strokes off the pacers and spinners. Martin Guptill was severe on Jadeja hitting him for boundaries. Latham too looked against the Indian spinners. Both of them completed half-centuries to revive the New Zealand hopes. Latham was dismissed by Ashwin for 53. Both of them put on 118 runs for the first wicket. In the first session, New Zealand scored 97 runs for the loss of only 1 wicket.
- Superb second session for India
Indian bowlers made an excellent comeback in the second session. Ashwin picked the wicket of Willamson for the third time in the series. After that Taylor, Guptil and Ronchi went in quick succession to leave the New Zealand team in big trouble at 148 for 5. Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers who picked 3 wickets in the session. Guptill was run out for well-made 72. Before the tea break, Jadeja dismissed Watling for 23. In the second session, New Zealand scored 91 runs but lost 5 important wickets.
- Ashwin was the star with ball for India
Ashwin picked his 20th five wicket haul in test matches for India. In the morning session, when the New Zealand openers were going strong, Ashwin came and picked the wicket of Latham. After the lunch break, Ashwin created panic among the New Zealand batsmen picking the wickets of Willamson, Taylor, and Ronchi to leave the New Zealand team in tatters. In the last session, he picked the wickets of Neesham and Boult to end with figures of 6 for 81 in 27.2 overs.
- Guptil and Neesham the top scorers for New Zealand
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill played a good hand for New Zealand. In the morning session, Guptill played some brilliant shots off the spinners and also the Indian fast bowlers. He remained not out on 59 runs at lunch break. He was finally dismissed in an unfortunate manner on 72. New Zealand was struggling at 148 for 5. Neesham came to the crease and played attacking strokes right from the start. His knock of 71 was not enough for New Zealand to save the follow-on mark, though India didn’t enforce one. Neesham completed his half-century off 85 balls. He was dismissed by Ashwin for 71 runs.
- Rest of the New Zealand batsmen failed to contribute
After a strong start by New Zealand openers, rest of batsmen failed to contribute. In the second session, Kane Willamson, Taylor, Ronchi went in quick succession. Willamson scored 8 runs while Taylor and Ronchi went for 0. BJ Watling, Santer scored 23 and 22 runs respectively but were dismissed quickly. This has been the story of series as only 1 or 2 New Zealand batsmen have contributed. It leaves a big task for New Zealand team to escape a defeat in this match as well.