New Zealand made news on Saturday for both good and bad reasons. Good, because Mumbai-born Kiwi left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel became the third cricketer to take 10 wickets in an innings. Bad, because NZ collapsed to 62 all out to hand a massive advantage to India in the second Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Sunday completely belonged to India. First, the Indian batsmen put up 276/7 decl in their second innings, thanks to knocks from Mayank Agarwal (62), Cheteshwar Pujara (47), Virat Kohli (36), Shubman Gill (47) and Axar Patel (41 not out). India took a mammoth 539-run lead. In reply, New Zealand find themselves struggling 140/5 at the end of Day 3 despite Daryl Mitchell's fighting 60 (92b, 7x4, 2x6). India's Ravichandran Ashwin did most of the damage with 3/27. New Zealand need 400 runs to win with two complete days in hand. Catch Day 3 highlights of India vs New Zealand second Test.
17:21 PM IST: Stumps on Day 3
That's It. New Zealand finish the day at 140/5. Still need 400 runs to win the Test match with two full days in hand.
16:57 PM IST: NZ 5 down
One more goes down for New Zealand. Tom Blundell, run out for a duck. Rachin Ravindra comes to the crease. New Zealand 130/5
16:48 PM IST: Axar gets Daryl
Axar Patel gets the dangerous-looking Daryl Mitchell, caught by Jayant Yadav for 60. New Zealand 128/4
16:31 PM IST: 100 up for NZ
100 up for New Zealand. Third Test fifty for Daryl Mitchell too. New Zealand 113/3
16:11 PM IST: Daryl takes NZ forward
After the loss of their top three, Daryl Mitchell is playing some serious cricket here in Mumbai. He is batting at 38 off 64 balls. New Zealand 86/3
15:32 PM IST: Ashwin strikes again
And the biggie Ros Taylor goes home, caught by Cheteshwar Pujara, off Ravi Ashwin for just 6. Simply disappointing from NZ's most experienced batsman. New Zealand 55/3
15:21 PM IST: Young departs
Gone! India have their second wicket as Will Young is out, caught by (sub) Suryakumar, bowled by Ravi Ashwin. Young departs for 20. New Zealand 50/2
15:17 PM IST: Injury updates from BCCI
1. Mayank Agarwal has been advised not to take the field as a precaution after he was hit on the right forearm while batting in the second innings.
2. Shubman Gill will also not take the field today as he had hurt himself while fielding at midwicket yesterday (dropping a catch off a Jayant Yadav no-ball) and injured his right middle finger.
14:44 PM IST: NZ lose Latham
New Zealand are 13 for the loss of Tom Latham's wicket for 6. Ravichandran Ashwin has trapped the Kiwi captain LBW. NZ need an improbable 527 runs to win. India are attacking with spin and pace. Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj have opened the bowling to exploit the Day 3 Wankhede pitch.
13:52 PM IST: India declare
India have declared at 276/7 in their second innings. New Zealand need 540 runs to win in more than six sessions. Ajaz Patel finishes this Test match with a record 14 wickets.
13:49 PM IST: India extend lead
Finally wickets for Rachin Ravindra in this Test match which was fully dominated by Ajaz Patel. From 142/2 at lunch, India are currently well-placed at 276/7, extending their lead to a whopping 539 runs. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli were dismissed at 47 and 36 respecctively. Shreyas Iyer (16) and Wriddhiman Saha (13) too didn't last long. Axar Patel is batting at 41.
11:31 AM IST: Ajaz Patel - 12 wickets, 68 overs and counting
After bowling 47.5 overs in the first innings, Ajaz Patel has already bowled 21 in the second. That's 68.5 overs so far for the left-arm spinner. Tom Latham isn't looking beyond Ajaz as of now. India 142/2, lead by 405 runs. Lunch has been taken.
11:13 AM IST: Words from the GREAT
Message from Sir Richard Hadlee To Ajaz Patel
"Congratulations to Ajaz on a superb bowling performance. It was a delight to watch; a well-deserved reward, and a great moment for him, New Zealand cricket, and world cricket. To be in the great company of Jim Laker and Anil Kumble is very special indeed. Good luck to him and the team in the second innings.”
11:11 AM IST: India increase lead
India near 400-run lead. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli are currently batting in the middle. India 130/2, lead by 393 runs.
10:51 AM IST: Pujara goes
India lose their second wicket, and that too to Ajaz Patel. Cheteshwar Pujara, caught at slip by Ross Taylor, for 47. India 120/2, lead by 383 runs.
10:22 AM IST: Mayank departs
Finally a wicket for New Zealand and it's Ajaz Patel again. 11th in the match so far for the Mumbai-born Kiwi. Mayank Agarwal departs for 62. India 107/1, lead by 370.
10:04 AM IST: Mayank takes a blow
Mayank takes a blow in his arm from a Tim Southee delivery. The physio is on the field. Looks to be sorted in a few moments.
9:59 AM IST: 100 for India
100 comes up for India with a soft push by Cheteshwar Pujara off Ajaz Patel. India 100/0, lead by 363 runs.
9:52 AM IST: 50 for Mayank
Marauding Mayank! The opener hits a six and a four off Ajaz Patel to bring up his fifty. 150 in the first innings and a fifty now. Take a bow Mayank. India 99/0, lead by 362 runs
9:43 AM IST: India start strong
India started from where they left yesterday. Four boundaries so far from Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara in the morning. India 86/0, lead by 349 runs.
9:26 AM IST: Players speak
Ravi Ashwin (IND): The pitch here in Wankhede is one where you can expect the ball to turn and a few good deliveries can get you wickets. At the same time, it is a place where it is very hard to stop a batsman from scoring. I think he (Mayank) got his tempo right. A team man like Mayank getting those runs is a pleasing sight.
Ajaz Patel (NZ): For me to come here to Mumbai and to be able to do something like that was very special. I got a very special message from Anil Kumble sir which was quite amazing for someone like me and quite humbling.
9:06 AM IST: Hello
Even after the first session of this Test match went washed out, India are in complete control of this match despite Ajaz Patel's 10-fer. With a lead of 332 runs and 10 wickets in hand, India would aim to bat the whole day to get as many runs as possible.
Sixteen wickets fell on a dramatic Day 2 of the India vs New Zealand Test in Mumbai on Saturday. At the end of it all, it turned out to be a sweet-bitter day for Ajaz Patel, the New Zealander who entered the history books for becoming the first Kiwi and the third bowler in the world to take 10 wickets in an innings.
Chasing India's first innings of 325, New Zealand undid all the good work done by Ajaz Patel after being 62 all out, the lowest ever Test score against India by any team! Strangely, India did not enforce the follow-on and at stumps on Day 2, were 69 for no loss, a handsome lead of 332.
New Zealand, without batting mainstay and captain Kane Williamson, suffered an unexpected batting meltdown on a good Wankhede pitch. Mohammed Siraj (3/19), who replaced the injured Ishant Sharma, justified his selection when he blew away the New Zealand top-order with pace and movement. Tom Latham (10) and Will Young (4) were caught at slips. Ross Taylor (1) was beaten for pace and bowled.
The Black Caps were 38 for 6 at tea and then the Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (4 wickets for eight runs) and Axar Patel (2/14) polished off whatever was left of the New Zealand resistance. Kyle Jamieson was New Zealand's top scorer with 17.
India look good to force an emphatic win. New Zealand had shown great character to script a dramatic draw in the first Test at Green Park, Kanpur. Mumbai looks a difficult proposition at this stage.
