Team India yet again put up a dominant display on Day 3
of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The hosts resumed the third day with their overnight score of 69/0 and declared the second innings at 276/7, giving the visitors a humungous target of 540 runs. New Zealand spinner
Ajaz Patel,
who picked up all ten wickets in the first innings, again shined with the ball, taking the maximum four scalps.
Opener
Mayank Agarwal,
who smashed a dazzling hundred in the first innings, continued from where he left and hit a crucial half-century (62). Apart from Mayank,
Cheteshwar Pujara (47),
Shubman Gill (47), and
Axar Patel (41 not out) chipped in with valuable contributions.
In the massive chase of 540 runs, New Zealand ended Day 3 with 140/5 as Indian spinners ripped apart the tourists’ batting order. Senior spinner
Ravichandran Ashwin demolished the Black Caps top order, picking up three wickets for 27 runs in 17 overs, including seven maidens.
Ashwin drew the first blood in the form of New Zealand captain
Tom Latham (6) before removing opener
Will Young (20) and middle-order batter
Ross Taylor (6) to damage the visitors. With the wicket of Taylor, the Tamil Nadu spinner equalled legendary
Richard Hadlee for most wickets (65) in Test matches played between India and New Zealand.
Ashwin also completed his 50 Test wickets in 2021, which made him the first bowler to reach such a landmark. Notably, this was the fourth time the Chennai-lad has managed the feat in a calendar year.
Axar (1/42) dismissed
Daryl Mitchell (60) while wicketkeeper
Tom Blundell got run out as the home team got an inch closer to accomplish the victory in Mumbai.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Indians taking 50+ Test wickets in most calendar years:
4* – R Ashwin (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021)
3 – Anil Kumble (1999, 2004, 2006)
3 – Harbhajan Singh (2001, 2002, 2008)
#INDvNZ — Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
December 5, 2021
Stumps on Day 3 of the 2nd Test.
#TeamIndia 5 wickets away from victory.
Scorecard –
https://t.co/KYV5Z1jAEM #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/C7luRRTwNk — BCCI (@BCCI)
December 5, 2021
Stumps in Mumbai ?
New Zealand need 400 more, while India need five wickets to win.
#WTC23 |
#INDvNZ |
https://t.co/EdvFj8QtKD pic.twitter.com/vBOlgkfo9Q — ICC (@ICC)
December 5, 2021
Nicholls (36*) & Ravindra (2*) will resume on Day 4 tomorrow, both showing plenty of character to close out Day 3 at Wankhede Stadium.
Follow play live in NZ on
@skysportnz &
@SENZ_Radio Scorecard |
https://t.co/tKeqyLOL9D #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/OMPI0gsNDO — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)
December 5, 2021
IND vs NZ, 2nd Test:
Day 3, Stumps: New Zealand – 140/5 (2nd innings).
India need five wickets to win the match.
#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Ir419Xs03r — CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
December 5, 2021
Stumps, Day 3⃣
Strong display from our spinners. The work continues tomorrow ?
??- 140/5
#INDvNZ #SaddaPunjab — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL)
December 5, 2021
2nd Test, Day 3 | Stumps
#NewZealand 140/5 in the second innings (D Michell 60; R Ashwin 3/27), need 400 more runs to win
#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/3sEXCDzbiM — Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel)
December 5, 2021
Seven different Indians hit a six in that innings; New Zealand hit a total of seven fours in its first innings.
The difference in the way the two team's batsmen move out of their crease to play the ball looks like two different sports.
— Andrew (@shortflyslip)
December 5, 2021
For latest cricket news & updates, visit
CricketTimes.com.
