Internet Desk : India is on the verge of winning their historic 500th Test match at Green Park, Kanpur. The Kiwis are tottering on 93/4 in reply of India’s massive total of 434 runs to chase in the fourth innings at the end of Day 4. On the other hand India’s Ravichandran Ashwin touched the milestone of 200 test wickets as he became the second fastest cricketer to do so.
New Zealand lost their two operners Tom Latham(2) and Martin Guptil(0) earlier in their second innings as the Indian spinning duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were on the top of their game. Later Captain Kane Williamson(25) had lost his concentration too and became Ashwin’s 200th victim. Ross Taylor was run-out committing a rather poor mistake – he reached to safety in the crease when Umesh Yadav hit the stumps directly, but did not ground his bat. Since then Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner have applied themselves admirably, but they are 341 runs behind from target and India needs just 6 wickets to seal the first test with a full days play left on the fifth day.
A great batting display by Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma after lunch on Day 4 turned the match in India’s favor ,as the Kiwis now have to chase a massive target of 434 runs by India after the hosts declared their second innings on 377 for 5.
Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma built a 100-run stand in mere 111 balls as the pair destroyed the New Zealand bowling attack in the second session of play. Rohit scored his fifty and remained unbeaten on 68 till the end, on the other hand Jadeja hammered the Kiwi spinners and scored 50 off 58 balls.
Earlier in the day Vijay couldn’t repeat his last day’s effort as he got out to Santner by only adding 12 runs to his kitty on 76. However Pujara stayed their and played an innings of 78 runs before he got out to Ish Sodhi. Indian Captain Kohli walked in and showed intent. He scored 18 runs in 40 balls with three boundaries to his name, but went for a sweep to a wide Craig delivery that spun after hitting the rough. Kohli got a top edge and for the second time in the match Sodhi took Kohli’s catch. Ajinkya Rahane batted well for his 40 but was removed by Mitchell Santner early in the second session. After that it was the Rohit-Jadeja show.
With the turning pitch assisting Indian spinners it seems to be a matter of time as how early New Zealand is all out on the fifth and penultimate day. Unless rain plays spoilsport on Monday India are all set to take 1-0 lead in the three test series in Kanpur.
Brief Score : Day 4
India – 377/5 dec Cheteswar Pujara 78 , Murali Vijay 76 , Ravichandran Ashwin 3/68
NZ – 93/4 Luke Ronchi 38* , Kane Williamson 25