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India rooted New Zealand for an innings defeat in the first of two match test series in Hyderabad. New Zealand batsmens completely lost their eye sight to the turn and bounce of Indian spinners, who picked 18 out of 20 wickets in the match. With 6 wickets in each innings and match haul of 12 wickets, Ravichandran Ashwin dream run at home continued as he was named player of the match for third time in four matches.
Except the time when Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson batting together, New Zealand were never in the safe zone. Beginning the 4th day at 41/1 in their 2nd innings after hour long rain break, McCullum and Williamson continued their stubborn defensive play to defy Indian spin attack as much as they can. They did it so effectively that a team for second time in the match and first time New Zealand had went into a session without losing any of their wickets.. New Zealand went into lunch 92/1 with McCullum batting at 39 and Williamson at 31 runs. But a poor decision by umpire Davis immediately after lunch means, McCullum unnatural innings came to end for 42 runs. Like a displacement of one hard brick leading to total wall downfall, McCullum wicket lead to New Zealand collapse.
After Umesh Yadav picked up McCullum, Indian spinners made inroads at New Zealand batting line-up. Ashwin picked up 6 more wickets in the second innings, taking his match tally beyond 10 wickets for first time. Ojha who also picked three wickets, scalped the price wicket of Kane Williamson for 52 runs. The ball to Williamson, was well flighted and slow through the air, which first drifted in before turning away to take the edge off the bat and to the hands of Sehwag in slip. It was such a beautiful ball that Williamson bat can’t stop following it. But it required such a great ball to dismiss the solid Williamson from the crease, who must now go and teach his fellow teammates in nets season on how to play spin. Ashwin also had couple of wow moments with the ball today. First at Ross Taylor, who misjudged the length and line of the ball completely, left the ball only to see it hit the off stump. Another at Franklin, who can’t do much with a ball that turned and bounced just outside off-stump then to poke at it, which went to Sehwag at 1st slip, who took it brilliantly. In the end, New Zealand bundled out for 164 in the 2nd innings and gave India an innings victory. Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out 159 runs to India’s 438 in the 1st innings and where forced to follow-on on day 3.
India leads the two match series 1-0 and going by the way things gone in this match, India should win the next test match at Bangalore without much fight from kiwis, who unless come up with sometime to counter the Indian spinners have to taste the whitewash in offer.
Brief Score: India 438 (Pujara 159, Dhoni 73, Patel 4/100) defeated New Zealand 159 (Franklin 43*, Ashwin 6-31) & 164 (Williamson 52, Ashwin 6-54) by an innings and 115 runs.
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