Ashwin sizzles as India thump New Zealand

By our correspondents

September 27, 2016

KANPUR, India: India celebrated their 500th Test in style when they overcame New Zealand’s final dogged resistance with mesmeric spin and masterful swing to claim the series opener by 197 runs on Monday.

New Zealand resumed on 93 for four in their pursuit of an improbable 434-run victory target on a track offering generous spin and bounce. They kept the home bowlers at bay for 50 overs on a turning day-five track before collapsing for 236 to give the hosts a comprehensive victory in the milestone Test.

Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 6-132 to complete his 10-wicket match haul and prove why he is considered India’s premier spinner.

“The boys applied themselves well, there were a few moments where we were in a spot of bother,” said India skipper Virat Kohli.

When final day’s play began under an overcast sky, overnight batsmen Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner (71) continued that resistance against the in-form Indian spinners at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.

Kohli predictably began with spin from both ends but the batsmen mixed caution with aggression to defy their hosts.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja finally made the breakthrough when he induced Ronchi into an ill-timed slog against the turn and Ashwin pouched the skier at point.

It was a tame end to Ronchi’s 102-run partnership with Santner, a defiant battle spread over 36 overs that proved the local spinners were not unplayable.

Ronchi hit nine boundaries and a six before his rush of blood to the head ended his innings on 80.

Mohammed Shami also displayed his reverse swing mastery and got one to jag back into BJ Watling’s pad before he uprooted Mark Craig’s middle stump with another swinging delivery.

Santner completed his fifty but was then served a nearly unplayable ball from Ashwin, which pitched way outside the leg-stump, turned and bounced viciously to kiss the shoulder of the bat and nestle in Rohit Sharma’s waiting hands at silly point.

The off-spinner then trapped Neil Wagner leg before to seal the victory.

Kolkata hosts the second of the three Tests from Friday.

“There were a lot of positives we’ll take into the next Test, hopefully a few lessons as well,” said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

Score Board

India won toss

India 1st innings 318 all-out (M Vijay 65; T Boult 3-67)

New Zealand 1st innings 262 all-out (K Williamson 75; R Jadeja 5-73)

India 2nd innings 377 dec (C Pujara 78; M Santner 2-79)

New Zealand 2nd innings

T W M Latham lbw b Ashwin 2

M J Guptill c Vijay b Ashwin 0

*K S Williamson lbw b Ashwin 25