R Ashwin dismantles New Zealand on day three - India v New Zealand, 1st Test, Kanpur, 3rd day
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Kane Williamson and Tom Latham successfully negotiated India's spinners on the second day of the first Test, but R Ashwin - on an aging Kanpur surface - spun the hosts back into contention by dismissing the in-form duo and restricting New Zealand to just 262 in their first innings.
The tourists began day three at 152 for 1, still 166 runs adrift from India's total. India's captain - Virat Kohli - brought on his spinners from the onset. The move paid off as both spinners drew sufficient bite from the pitch to trouble the well-set New Zealand duo.
Ashwin drew first blood - just five overs into the days play - got one to drift into Latham and trapped him lbw for 58. The spinning pitch proved too much for Ross Taylor to handle and he fell an over later to Ravindra Jadeja.
India looked to cash in as the tourists searched for answers against spin. There were none forthcoming; as Ashwin accounted for the inform Williamson three-overs later. Williamson stayed back and attempted to pat Ashwin through the covers but he produced enough spin on the delivery to deceive him and rattle the stumps. New Zealand stood at 170 for 4 at that stage. They never really recovered from the collapse in their batting ranks.
Mitchell Santner and BJ Watling showed some resistance and added 36 runs for the sixth wicket before Ashwin drew Santner forward and had him stumped for 32 in the 92nd over. Jadeja then tore through the tail, first accounting for Mark Craig for two and then dismissing Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult - in the 95th over - without scoring. Ashwin added the finishing touches and deceived Watling in flight to claim an easy return catch. An impressive bowling display gave India a comfortable 56-run first-innings lead.
Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara added to New Zealand's woes and stretched the lead to 215 for 1 at stumps on day three. Ashwin - for claiming the crucial wickets of Williamson, Latham, Watling and Santner - is the Star of the Day.
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