Spinners Do Their Job Well, Time For Batters To Salvage Pride; 3rd Test Poised For Exciting Finish

Exploiting spin-friendly conditions, Ravindra Jeja and R Ashwin chiselled through New Zealand batting line-up to bring India to a st from where y can force a face-saving victory in third Test which is w heed for an intriguing finish.

New Zealand ended day two at 171 for nine with an overall le of 143, which might look small but even a target in vicinity of 150 will pose serious challenge for Indian batters, considering fast deteriorating Wankhede track.

This was after half-centuries from Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60) and a crucial 38 t out from Washington Sundar gave India a slender 28-run le as y put on board 263.

A total of 15 wickets fell on second day, underlining fact that life won't be easy for hosts while batting fourth.

Ashwin (3/63) found his rhythm while Jeja (4/52) ded four more dismissals after his 5/65 in first essay to keep India's hopes alive to avert a clean sweep at home for first time.

Ajaz Patel (7) was at crease when Jeja cleaned up Matt Henry (10) for penultimate wicket on final ball on second day.

Will Young's gutsy 51 was only resistance from Kiwis who succumbed to pressure, after Patel (5/103) recorded yet ar five-wicket haul.

Having me a subdued impact so far, Ashwin’s delight on getting Rachin Ravindra (4) stumped was evident as he beat charge of batter with bounce and turn.

With Glenn Phillips (26) using long handle to a good effect, Ashwin cleaned up New Zealand batter for ar crucial breakthrough.

Young, who batted as solid as he did in first innings, was Ashwin’s third victim giving bowler catching practice after being outfoxed on a carrom ball.

37-year-old Ashwin me impact beyond his bowling when he took an outstanding catch to end a stubborn 50-run association between Young and Daryl Mitchell (21), who, for a pass of play, threatened to take game away.

Young and Mitchell h steied ship after New Zealand’s top-order was blown away, but latter’s charge against Jeja proved costly as he did t get distance in his stroke.

From mid-off, Ashwin covered 19 metres running sideways to his left and put in a fabulous dive to complete dismissal, post which New Zealand crumbled furr.

Tom Blundell (4) chopped one onto his stumps off Jeja while Ashwin cleaned up Phillips, who h switched to aggressive batting kwing New Zealand desperately needed more runs.

At start of Kiwis' reply, Akash provided a rare sight of a pacer disturbing a batter's furniture on turning track when he dismantled Tom Latham's (1) off and middle stumps in first over.

Earlier, India's progress suffered a severe blow with exit of Pant towards end of morning session, as its effects were felt acutely when play resumed post lunch.

From Pant’s dismissal in 38th over to India eventually folding in 60th, team mand eight fours and two sixes — wicketkeeper-batter alone hit that many during his brisk half-century earlier.

Patel, finding right length, reaped rewards as Kiwi spinner claimed ar five-for at Wankhede Stium, following up his world record 10/119 in first innings of 2021 Test here.

Gill fell short of his century while ors continued to disappoint.

Perhaps, re was greater disappointment than to see Sarfaraz Khan looking like a fish out of water during his four-ball struggle, failing to open his account at his home turf where at times he has plundered runs for fun.

Sarfaraz failed to re length of his first ball and went for a mighty sweep against Patel in his pomp, but was beaten by bounce and turn on next.

He might have fallen on third ball when it bounced off his glove but re was silly point.

But he h to walk back when bounce and turn h ball settling in ‘keeper Tom Blundell’s gloves after kissing shoulder of his bat.

Gill, who showed flaws in his 146-ball stay with seven fours and a six — longest for any batter in this Test — was also among Patel’s victims on day as Mumbai-origin Kiwi spinner h him caught at first slip after a fine kck.

Jeja (14) too was caught at first slip, albeit off Glenn Phillips, as Washington wd a lone battle among three all-rounders scoring a brisk 36-ball 38 t out with four boundaries and two sixes.

Having ceded control to New Zealand in final minutes of opening day's play with an embarrassing collapse, India showed better resolve to make a speedy recovery.

Pant's quickfire 60, laced with eight fours and two sixes, was instrumental in taking vant away from Kiwis who were gifted three unexpected wickets by Indians with batting mainstays Virat Kohli (4) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30) committing harakiri.