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Team India yet again put up a dominant display on Day 3 of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The hosts resumed the third day with their overnight score of 69/0 and declared the second innings at 276/7, giving the visitors a humungous target of 540 runs. New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel, who picked up all ten wickets in the♏ first innings, agai𝄹n shined with the balꦍl, taking the maximum four scalps.
Opener Mayank Agarwal, who🌱 smashed a dazzlin🥂g hundred in the first innings, continued from where he left and hit a crucial half-century (62). Apart from Mayank, Cheteshwar Pujara (47), Shubman Gill (47), and Axar Patel (41 not out) chipped in with 🐈valuable contributions.
In the massive chase of 540 runs, New Zealand ended Day 3 with 140/5 as Indian spinners ripped apart the tourists’ batting order. Senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin demolished the Black Caps top orde🔯r, picking up three wickets for 27 runs in 17 overs, including seve🐬n maidens.
Ashwin drew the first blood in the form of New Zealand captain Tom Latham (6) before removing opener Will Young (20) and middle-order batter Ross Taylor (6) to damage the visitors. With the wicket of Taylor, the Tamil Nadu spinner equalled legendary Richard Hadlee for mo🦂st wickets (65) in Test matches played between India and New Zealand.
Ashwin ꦛalso completed his 50 Test wickets in 2021, which made him the first bowler to reach such a landmark. Notably, this was the fourth time the Chennai-lad has managed the feat in a calendar year.
Axar (1/42) dismissed Daryl Mitchell (60) while wicketkeeper Tom Blundell got run out as the home team got an inch closer to accomplish𝓡 the victory in Mumbai.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
ꦺIn💎dians taking 50+ Test wickets in most calendar years:
4* – R Ashwin (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021)
3 – Anil Kumble (1999, 2004, 2006)
3 – Harbhajan Singh (2001, 2002, 2008)— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
Stumps on Day 3 oღf the 2nd Test. 5 wickets away from victory.
Scorecard –
— BCCI (@BCCI)
Stumps in Mumbai 🏏
New Zealand need 400 more, while India need five wicket𝕴s to win. | |
— ICC (@ICC)
Nicholls (36*) & Ravindra (2𝓡*) will resume on Day 4 tomorrow, both showing plenty of character tওo close out Day 3 at Wankhede Stadium.
Follow play live in NZ on & @SENZ_Radio
Scorecard |— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)
IND vs NZ, 2nd Test:
Day 3, Stumps: New Zealand – 140/5 (2nd innings).
India need five wickets to win the match.— betvisa69.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Stumps, Day 3⃣
Strong display from our spinners.﷽ The work continues tomor𒊎row 💪
🇳🇿- 140/5
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL)
2nd Test, Day 3 | Stumpsꦆ 140/5 in the second innings (D Michell 60; R Ashw🐈in 3/27), need 400 more runs to win
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel)
Seven different Indians hit a six in that innings; New Zealand hit a total of seven fours in its first in🐈nings.
The difference in the way the two team's batsmen move out of their crease to play the ball looks like two different sports.
— Andrew (@shortflyslip)
