Hyderabad: Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha took full advantage of a spinning track to rip through New Zealand’s top order and put India in the driver’s seat after the second day of the opening Test here on Friday.
In conditions best suited for spinners, Ashwin and Ojha got into the act straightaway to reduce New Zealand to a precarious 106 for five in reply to India’s first innings total of 438, largely built around Cheteshwar Puajara’s 159.
The Kiwis trail by 332 runs, still needing 133 just to avoid the follow on with five wickets in hand.
After Ojha gave the first breakthrough by dismissing an aggressive-looking Brendon McCullum, Ashwin rocked the Kiwis with two wickets from his first two overs.
Ashwin continued his terrific spell with a third wicket in his fifth over to have the Black Caps reeling at 55 for four.
Just when New Zealand were looking to build a partnership, Ojha broke a 44-run fifth wicket partnership by dismissing Kane Williamson.
Earlier, India’s first innings ended on 438 with Pujara contributing 159 and adding 127 runs for the sixth wicket with skipper MS Dhoni who chipped in with an useful 73.
The start to the second day’s proceedings was delayed by 26 minutes as the groundsmen were asked to keep the covers ready in anticipation of rain. Although the heavens didn’t open, it remained cloudy throughout the second day.
After the resumption, the Indian duo of Pujara and Dhoni, who had a 47-run overnight partnership with individual scores of 119 and 29 respectively, carried out their good work even as the skipper was troubled by the Kiwi seamers initially.
Pujara kept his composure and flair intact, looking for quick singles, rotating the strike as by lunch they had put on 111-run together keeping their stand intact.
Dhoni completed his half-century, 25th in 68 Tests, flicking Doug Bracewell towards deep mid-wicket while Pujara reached to 150 pulling the same bowler through fine-leg boundary in a fine first session for India.
India’s score of 438 is the first time in five matches that the team has crossed 400.
The script favoured New Zealand post lunch as the visitors had their most fruitful session when they came back taking five wickets including that of Pujara and Dhoni.
Soon after lunch, Pujara ran out of patience as he stepped out to mistime offspinner Patel, lofting the ball to Franklin at mid-on as his fine innings came to an end. (PTI)
