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India thump Kiwis to celebrate 500th Test in style

 

Kanpur, Sep 26: A six-wicket haul by R. Ashwin propelled India to a massive win in its 500th Test on Monday, giving the host team a 1-0 leg up in the three Test series against New Zealand.

New Zealand had six wickets in hand when they started out on the final day of the Test, needing 341 runs to close the deal.

After reducing the Kiwis to 205-7 at lunch, India claimed the three remaining wickets to clinch the opening Test on the fifth day here.

Ravindra Jadeja is the Man of the Match, whi

India Team players celebrates his win against New Zealand during day 5 of the first test match between India and New Zealand held at the Green Park stadium on the 26th September 2016. Photo by: Deepak Malik/ BCCI/ SPORTZPICS
India Team players celebrates his win against New Zealand during day 5 of the first test match between India and New Zealand held at the Green Park stadium on the 26th September 2016.
Photo by: Deepak Malik/ BCCI/ SPORTZPICS

le Ashwin bagged a total of 10 wickets in both innings, becoming the fastest Indian to scalp 200 wickets.

Earlier, paceman Mohammed Shami struck twice after Luke Ronchi gifted away his wicket, reducing New Zealand to 205 for seven at lunch on the fifth day, on Monday.

Overnight Kiwi batsmen Ronchi (80) and Mitchell Santner (56 batting) frustrated the Indian bowlers for about 20 overs, adding 65 runs to their overnight total of 93-4 before India struck thrice to position themselves for a massive win in their 500th cricket Test.

It was Ronchi, who handed India the opening when he went for a sweep slog against Jadeja and handed a top-edge to Aswhin.

The mistake ended his 102-run stand with Santner, who scored his maiden Test fifty.

Santner remained solid from one end and defied the Indian bowlers for the next 10 overs with BJ Watling. Together they were involved in a 36-run stand, which was broken by Shami when he trapped the wicket-keeper batsman.

In his next over, Shami breached the defence of Mark Craig, who has been ruled out of the series due to a side strain.

The two wickets in successive overs, pegged New Zealand back.

Batting with utmost caution, the overnight New Zealand players took 19 balls to score their first run this morning but after getting their eyes in, Ronchi and Santner negotiated the spin confidently to keep the hosts waiting for an early breakthrough.

Both jadeja and Ashwin flighted the ball through the air opting full length most of the time. Ronchi comfortably drove Jadeja in the cover region and Ashwin did not mind using his feet.

The two Kiwi batsmen soon started to score at a brisk pace with Santner even slog-sweeping Jadeja for a huge six over mid-wicket.

After persisting with Jadeja and Ashwin for 12 overs, India captain Virat Kohli asked paceman Umesh Yadav to bowl.

They frustrated India for the first hour and the hosts struck in the first over after drinks break when Ronchi was guilty of slogging a Jadeja ball.

 

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