Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja rocked the Kiwi middle-order with two wickets apiece as India reduced New Zealand to 238 for five at lunch on the third day of the first cricket Test in Kanpur on Saturday.
New Zealand started the bright and sunny day at a strong 152 for one but Indian spinners claimed three wickets in the space of 29 balls to send the visitors on the back-foot.
Ashwin removed both the overnight batsmen — Tom Latham (58) and captain Kane Williamson (75) — while left-arm spinner Jadeja got rid of dangerman Ross Taylor (0) and Luke Ronchi (38) as the Green Park pitch offered turn and bounce this morning.
Ronchi, who had warmed up for the series with a century in the Delhi practice game, went about his business fearlessly as he drove and cut Ashwin to boundary ropes with confidence.
With his fearless approach, he steadied the Kiwi innings along with Mitchell Santner (28 batting), who was sent ahead of much-experienced BJ Watling. They added 49 runs for the fifth wicket before Jadeja trapped Ronchi with a full length delivery.
