R Ashwin rocks New Zealand with three quick wickets

R Ashwin rocked New Zealand's top order with an impressive three-wicket display of spin bowling - that saw him become the second-fastest bowler to 200 wickets in Test cricket in the first Test being played in Kanpur on Sunday.

The hosts had declared on 377 for 5, after tea on the fourth day, with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja targeting New Zealand's bowlers, with an unbeaten 100-run stand - for the sixth wicket - that gave them a sizeable 434-run lead with four sessions of the match remaining.

The huge target meant that New Zealand would need to complete the highest-ever successful chase in order to win the Test. The presence of an inform Ashwin compounded their woes, as he shared the new ball with Mohammad Shami. Ashwin produced bite off good length from his first delivery of the second innings that left an in-form Tom Latham foxed. Martin Guptill was his first victim; and feathered an inside edge, on to his pad, to silly point in the fourth over of the innings.

Latham followed in the same over as, he misread an Ashwin delivery that didn't turn and trapped him lbw for two. The early double-blow pegged the visitors on the back foot and they looked to their captain, Kane Williamson, to guide them through the 30-odd overs that remained in the day.

It was an uphill task even for Williamson who added 25-cautious runs from 59 deliveries, before Ashwin trapped him lbw with a quicker delivery that turned. His three wickets helped him reach the 200-wicket mark from just 37 matches, ahead of Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis, who accomplished the same feat in 38 matches. Only Australia's leg spinner, Clarrie Grimmett in the early 1900s, had claimed 200 wickets faster, from 36 Tests.

"The challenge from the opposition is always good. For example, Williamson was playing really well. Taylor was playing back. It's a combination of playing good batsmen, conditions and match situations that makes this satisfying," Ashwin said. "I think its too early to talk about my achievements I have a long way to go. [12 more Tests to go in the season] Very important to take one day at a time, Test cricket can set you back if you take it for granted. Be greedy in terms of what you want to achieve, but preparing for a Test, you have to take it one day at a time"

New Zealand was 93 for 4, at stumps on day four, still 341-runs adrift from India's total. Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner will begin the chase on the final day of the Test on Monday. Ashwin - for his impressive three-wicket display - is the Star of the Day.