That’s it from us in our coverage of the third day’s play in the first Test between India and New Zealand in Kanpur. India are back in the game and how, and Axar Patel sure is making Test cricket look like a cakewalk with a fifth five-wicket haul in just four Tests.
Sets things up nicely for what should be a cracker of a Sunday. Can’t wait for the first delivery to be bowled tomorrow morning. For now, this is Amit Banerjee signing off. See you tomorrow!
“Team was also asking me how many five-fors I will keep taking. No it’s not easy at all. The way the day progressed today was completely different from yesterday. It’s not like you will get a wicket every ball. Lot of planning and effort goes into it. I was making ample use of the width of the crease to go with my round-arm action, and that I felt created problems for the batters. The wicket has changed a lot, has become a lot slower. Will keep getting slower from here, but batters can get runs if they apply themselves,” says Axar Patel in a quick chat after the close of play. He was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 5/62.
STUMPS ON DAY 3:
Patel’s first over of the day turns out to be the last one before the umpires flick the bails off to signal close of play. India off to a shaky start as Jamieson gets rid of Gill off his first delivery of the day, but Pujara’s off to a confident start with a couple of boundaries, and there’s plenty of batting still to come.
Terrific comeback from the Indians, who started the day looking to break the Young-Latham opening stand, before super spells from Axar and Ashwin helped spark a Kiwi batting collapse, the visitors losing their last nine wickets for just 99 runs to concede a 49-run first innings lead.
After 4 overs,India 10/1 ( Mayank Agarwal 1 , Cheteshwar Pujara 8)
Jamieson nearly gets a second wicket in as many overs as the ball goes past Pujara’s defence in the second delivery, narrowly missing the off stump on its way to the keeper’s gloves. Another boundary for Pujara, once again playing with soft hands to guide the ball through the gap between slip and gully off the last ball.
After 3 overs,India 6/1 ( Mayank Agarwal 1 , Cheteshwar Pujara 4)
Southee collects a maiden in his second over of the day, with umpire Virender Sharma bringing out the light meter at the end of this over. Light has been an issue around this time of the day so far in the Kanpur Test, with the two previous days coming to an end without the full quota of overs being bowled.
MILESTONE ALERT
Fastest Kiwi bowlers to take 50 Test wickets:9 matches : Kyle Jamieson*
12 matches : Shane Bond #INDvsNZ— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 27, 2021
After 2 overs,India 6/1 ( Mayank Agarwal 1 , Cheteshwar Pujara 4)
Kyle Jamieson starts off from the other end, and becomes the fastest New Zealand bowler to 50 Test wickets by getting rid of Shubman Gill, achieving the feat in his ninth Test to break the record that was previously held by the legendary Shane Bond. Cheteshwar Pujara walks out to bat, and gets off the mark with a late cut that pierces slip and gully and runs away to third man for a four.
OUT! Kyle Jamieson becomes the fastest New Zealand bowler to 50 Test wickets as he gets rid of Shubman Gill off his first ball of the day. Gill’s late in bringing his bat down, showing little movement of his feet as the ball slithers through his defence and hits the top of off and middle! Top start for the Black Caps. IND 2/1
Gill b Jamieson 1(3)
After 1 over,India 2/0 ( Mayank Agarwal 1 , Shubman Gill 1)
Both Agarwal and Gill open their accounts with a single as India’s second innings gets underway. Beautiful delivery from Southee in the fifth ball, the late movement nearly getting Agarwal’s outside edge. Two from the over.
Tim Southee starts off with the ball in hand, with Mayank Agarwal on strike. India have another 30 minutes to bat, and will hope their openers go through it unscathed.