Mumbai, Nov 1 (IANS) Off-spinner Washington Sundar struck two crucial blows as India reduced New Zealand to 92/3 in 27 overs at lunch on the first day of the third and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday.
Sundar took the wickets of New Zealand captain Tom Latham (28) and Rachin Ravindra (top scorer for the visitors in the series so far) in almost identical fashion as the hosts took full advantage of the pitch conditions just an hour into the match. raised.
At lunch, Will Young held the fort for the visitors with 38 runs off 73 balls, which included three fours and the only six of the first session. Daryl Mitchell was supporting him by scoring 11 runs.
The trick to early success at the Wankhede Stadium was to use the available power in the first hour and cause some damage. After New Zealand batted first, India tried to do the same and took a wicket in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who sat out due to “not having fully recovered from his viral illness”. The hosts had a few more chances, as the edge of Devon Conway's bat went between third and fourth slip off Akash Deep. However, India managed to take three wickets in the first session of the match, which they have to win to avoid a series whitewash. Akash Deep, who swung the ball both ways and bit the dust on a few occasions, made the breakthrough in the fourth over when Conway was caught in front by a ball pitched on a good length and edged inwards, avoiding the edge. There was a swing. The ball remained a bit low as well, which didn't help Conway much when he opted to review the decision and the decision went against him. New Zealand's score in the fourth over was 15/1.
Captain Latham and Young took the Blackcaps past 50 runs in 84 balls in the 14th over, although there were some moments when the Indians remained interested. In the 10th over, Young hit two fours off Akash Deep and an edge from Latham's bat fell into the safe zone. Young showed his aggressive instincts by using his feet to take Ashwin's ball wide at long-on and sweep Sundar to the left of the keeper for the boundary. Sundar, who was brought in as the second change in place of Akash Deep, scored two quick blows for India. He first bowled Latham with an excellent ball which hit the off stump.
Latham scored 28 runs in 44 balls with three fours. The biggest breakthrough for India was the cheap dismissal of Rachin Ravindra, as Sundar replicated the ball that had dismissed Latham, sending this ball away from the crease which went beyond the defensive end and clipped the off stump. Went. This was the third consecutive time that Ravindra was bowled by Washington Sundar. New Zealand's score in the 20th over was 72/3.
Brief Score:
New Zealand vs India (1st innings) 92/3 in 27 overs (Tom Latham 28, Will Young 38 not out; Washington Sundar 2-26, Akash Deep 1-22)
–IANS
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