At Basin Reserve, it was a poised kind of day for Indian bowlers as well as batsmen. The third day started with Colin de Grandhomme and BJ Watling in the middle as New Zealand was leading by 51 runs. The host needed to set up a strong partnership to give a challenging target to India. However, Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t give a chance to Kiwis to set up themselves at the crease.
Importantly, on Sunday, Jasprit Bumrah, who was waiting to bag a wicket to get back to his rhythm, picked the wicket of the wicketkeeper-batsman Watling. He bowled an absolute beauty to send back Watling for 14 runs.
Grandhome anchored the other end while his teammates lost wickets from another end. Tim Southee lost his wicket to pacer Ishant. While Kyle Jamieson scored 45-ball 44 that included four maximums, most by a No .9 batsman in the debut match, to break the 55-year-old record. Soon, Ashwin picked the wicket of de Grandhomme to bring the game close to an end. The allrounder scored 43 off 74 balls.
Last two lower-order batsman Boult and Ajaz Patel hold the game for long as former scored 38 runs and the latter scored six. Finally, Ishant collected the wicket of Boult as New Zealand’s innings came to an end on scoring 348 runs. Thus, they claimed a vital first-innings lead of 183 runs over India.
Also, with Boult’s wicket, Ishant picked his fifth wicket which registered his 11th five-wicket haul in Test career.
Mayank Agarwal’s innings helps India to lead:
In Wellington, it was another massive disappointing day for the young opener Prithvi Shaw, who was out after scoring 14 runs. Shaw’s technique got exposed in front of New Zealand pacer – Trent Boult. He bowled an inswinger and the youngster gave an easy catch to Tom Latham. India lost its first wicket at the score 27.
Mayank Agarwal showed some class with the bat, starting the game with a boundary. His temperament to face the pacers led him to score a gritty fifty. Agarwal got the free-hand to hit boundaries as Cheteshwar Pujara hold played at his usual best while opting for a blockathon. Pujara tested the patience of New Zealand seamers. But soon, Boult tricked Pujara. He scored just 11 runs from 81 balls.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli entered the field hoping to end his long low-scoring drought. Disappointingly, Kohli lost his wicket cheaply, giving an easy catch to BJ Watling behind the stumps after scoring 19 runs.
Besides, Agarwal also lost his wicket, getting an edge of the bat on the bowling off Tim Southee. He also took the review as the captain suggested to him but it went into vain.
Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari and Rahane had held the innings of India and led the game to proceed to the fourth day. Although the host had still the lead of 39 runs.
New Zealand’s innings:
India’s innings:
Meanwhile, the host needs to stitch up a partnership to change the scenario of the game on the penultimate day of the Wellington Test.