India vs New Zealand, 2nd test: Ravichandran Ashwin turns it on as India aim to finish four days

India’s mid-order worries for the South African series remain but that hasn’t stopped Ravichandran Ashwin from turning on the heat as his three quick hits sent New Zealand wobbling at 140 for the year to pursue. an impossibility 540 over the third day of the second test. While Daryl Mitchell (60 of 92 strokes) and Henry Nicholls (36 strokes) add 73 runs for the fourth, there is no denying that India is likely to end early on Wednesday with Ashwin (3/27) looks menacing with each passing. What will hurt the New Zealand team the most in this loss is the fact that this is a match in which one of their men – Ajaz Patel, has equaled the world record and won 14 matches, which no one has ever seen before. used to do. India in the Cricket Test.

Tall Mitchell at least managed to use his reach against Ashwin and also attacked Jayant Yadav and Axar Patel but looked more like the last man standing, trying to delay the inevitable before The rush of blood caused him to be stuck in a deeper hiding place. Tom Blundell once committed suicide to find a single that didn’t exist.

But it was Ashwin, who again got the new ball and immediately got into action by knocking out captain Tom Latham with a corner serve while Will Young brought the baton forward short and Ross Tayor, who was once a walking tennis player, failed miserably in his attempt to wipe out the treacherous stalker.

There was one game where Ashwin really toyed with left-handed Nicholls, who couldn’t judge which would turn away like a classic break and which would go straight or go in at the corner.

But there will be some issues that need the urgent attention of coach Rahul Dravid.

For India, even if it could be an easy win, the wobbly intermediate order will have them nervous heading into the series in South Africa.

Ajinkya Rahane failed the first test and had to be disqualified for hamstring reasons. Cheteshwar Pujara had three bad innings and one in which he looked better but that was after the pressure was released by the pitchers.

Skipper Virat Kohli, whose main purpose of not keeping track was to gain time hitting the ball under the line, also looked unconvinced in a scratchy inning with 36 of 84 balls.

India claimed their second inning at 276-7 after Axar hit four six- and three-fourth innings of 41 of his 26 balls to aid the late innings.

Their confidence was shattered, the New Zealand pitchers conceded 25 innings and 11 innings in the 70 rounds they bowled in the second. In fact, all the Indian players who saved Wriddhiman Saha hit at least a six.

Kohli’s idea of ​​hitting the ball back was successful in part because Pujara played so well during his 47-time period and his Mayank Agarwal (62, 108 balls) didn’t harm by smashing another half-century. to score 150 in his first inning.

The duo added 107 runs for the opening stand to add insult to injury for New Zealand and it was added to by another 82 runs that Shubman Gill (47) added with Kohli.

Saving six where he hit his opponent’s weakest link, Will Sommerville, Kohli for the better part of his 84 balls looked unconvincing before playing with a friendly left-handed swing from Rachin Ravindra , who also has three shots of the ball.

Agarwal was looking well for the second percent of the game but in his bid to beat Patel by six more, he couldn’t reach the serve and Will Young comfortably caught the ball on the long serve.

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For Pujara, this is the best chance to get his fifties and boost his confidence ahead of the South Africa tour.

He survived a strong DRS protest but then a serve was thrown slightly fuller and turned, outstripping and reaching Taylor’s safe hand on the slide.