It’s Day 3 of India vs New Zealand: 1st Test Day 3. This test is well poised at the end of the second day with New Zealand scored 129 runs without losing any wicket and they were in for a big total. As an opposition in India, not often you see a solid 100+ opening stand against the quality of Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar. But deep inside New Zealand definitely do know they have got a lot of tough work ahead as the cracks widen today. We did see the Indian spinners ask some questions at the fag end yesterday. And today it will be more difficult for the visitors. We will see what happened today in India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 3.
First Session
India started brilliantly in the morning. Indian bowlers were immaculate throughout the morning, especially Ashwin who broke the opening stand and was unlucky not to get Latham LBW. India could have reviewed it but chose not to. But at the brink of the lunch, Indian pacer Umesh Yadav took the most important wicket that India wanted desperately. Umesh dismissed Kane Williamson cheaply at the brink of lunch and this sets the Test well poised.  Latham is still out there though, and has looked secure for most parts. But he will now have to build another partnership, and with the second new ball just one over old.
Second Session
A pleasing session for the home team. 52 runs and 4 wickets in that session. Does India need a better session than this? New Zealand were placed pretty well at 214/2, but Axar Patel got Taylor, Nicholls and Latham in quick succession. Latham missed his hundred by 5 runs. Jadeja then knocked over Ravindra with a lovely ball. From 241/6, the visitors have gone into a bit of a shell. Tom Blundell may just be blocking but he looks so assured in his defense. Still 96 runs behind. Indian bowlers aren’t bowling anything loose and New Zealand batters was under immense pressure. New Zealand wants that these two batters make a partnership. On the other hand, India wants to take the breakthrough and finish with a handy lead.
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Third Session
Indian bowlers continue to impress as they were not giving any runs and chipped wickets at regular intervals. India bowled out New Zealand in this session with a handy lead of 49 runs. Axar Patel leads the team off the park, raising the ball to the crowd after his fifth five-for in just seven innings derailed New Zealand’s progress. Axar Patel continues to impress time in the Test Cricket. Apart from Axar, Ashwin was superb too, just that the figures won’t tell you as much. But a more challenging situation awaits India as they have to bat now after fielding for the whole day as there is a few minutes play left.
India, in reply, lost their opener Shubman Gill in the second over by a brilliant delivery from Kyle Jamieson. And with that wicket, Kyle Jamieson becomes the fastest New Zealand bowler to 50 Test matches. He achieved this fate in just 9 Test matches. After that, India didn’t lose any wicket and finished the day after scoring 14 runs with 1 wicket down.
The wicket of Shubman Gill gives New Zealand something to take back from a day that’s not really gone to plan. Axar Patel was just brilliant today with his fifer. His effort instigated a collapse wherein New Zealand lost 9 wickets for 99. Wasn’t a quick collapse. It took close to 60 overs for them to get those 99, which tells you how much pressure India built. Another exciting day awaits in India vs New Zealand 1st Test. Day 4 will be exciting.
