India vs NZ: Top plays from day three of third Test

Sport360 staff 17:18 10/10/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Ashwin is congratulated by his team-mates after picking up a wicket

    ASHWIN’S INCREDIBLE TEST RECORD

    Ravichandran Ashwin is, without much doubt, one of the biggest match-winners in Test cricket currently. His masterful bowling was once again on display as he ended with figures of 6/81 in New Zealand’s first innings.

    New Zealand looked to be in control at 118/0, but Ashwin struck with three quick wickets and there was no looking back after that.

    Ashwin against Williamson was one of the most talked-about battles before the start of the series and it’s fair to say that the Indian off-spinner has won the duel quite comfortably.

    Playing in just the 39th Test of his career, this was Ashwin’s 20th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

    GUPTILL FINDS FORM

    Martin Guptill, whose place in the New Zealand Test team has often been questioned, dug in to score his first half-century in nine innings. The 30-year-old scored 72, a knock which might help him keep his place in the Test side for the New Zealand summer.

    Along with Tom Latham, Guptill provided a solid start to New Zealand’s innings. The duo put on 118 runs for the first wicket, by far the best opening partnership of the series.

    Guptill may consider himself unfortunate after getting run-out from a straight drive from Luke Ronchi, which saw the ball flick the bowler Ashwin’s hand.

    UNLUCKY NEW ZEALAND

    Ravichandran Ashwin wasn’t just good with his off-spin, but also managed to execute two run-outs off his own bowling. Guptill and Jeetan Patel were the batsmen found backing up too much at the non-striker’s end.

    While Guptill’s dismissal was intentionally done by Ashwin, he will consider himself a little lucky with the way Patel was run-out. Matt Henry, the batsman at the time, hit the ball in the air and Ashwin had a good opportunity to complete a caught and bowled dismissal, but dropped the catch.

    Fortunately for Ashwin, the ball deflected off his hands and knocked the bails off at the non-striker’s end.

    With no DRS implemented in this series, there have been a few questionable decisions as well; Jimmy Neesham was the one who was on the receiving end this time around, given LBW to a delivery which was clearly missing the stumps.

    INDIAN BATSMAN WARNED AGAIN

    On day two of the Indore Test, Ravindra Jadeja was initially warned for running on the pitch. A second offence of the same kind from the Saurashtra cricketer saw New Zealand awarded five penalty runs.

    Later in the day, Jadeja was fined 50 percent of his match fee and given three demerit points by the ICC.

    In fact, even before Jadeja, the commentators had noted that Indian captain Virat Kohli was running across the pitch during his marathon innings of 211.

    On Monday, there was another such incident as Murali Vijay was found to be running on the pitch by umpire Bruce Oxenford. As a result, the Tamil Nadu opener received his first warning.

    Recommended