Seamers give India 112-run lead

The drift of R Ashwin and reverse swing of Mohammed Shami accounted for the three New Zealand wickets that were left standing on the third day in Kolkata and gave India a lead of 112 runs, which could prove decisive considering the pitch had begun to misbehave with greater frequency.

In the first over of India’s second innings, a good length ball from Trent Boult reared up and hit Shikhar Dhawan`s left hand. In the third over, another delivery bouncing extravagantly, this time off a shortish length, forced a break in play as Dhawan was hit on the same hand and needed medical attention.

He was on 0 for 14 balls before he hit a fuller and wider delivery through the covers for four. On Test comeback, he would have preferred a less stern examination but should he come through it, he could get what he wants - a regular spot in the XI.

New Zealand seemed like they would get what they would want when play began on Sunday morning. Resuming at 128 for 7, they were propped up by BJ Watling and Jeetan Patel adding 60 runs for the eighth wicket.

But Ashwin broke the partnership with his first ball of the morning, a beauty that danced away from Patel in the air and turned his slog over midwicket into a top-edge that was caught just beyond the cut strip at mid-off. The wicket had come after India had changed the ball and Patel was dismissed for his highest Test score of 47.

It was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, in the third over of the day, who established that reverse swing was on offer. He had taken five wickets in 10 overs on Saturday and had he added one more this morning he could have become the first Indian pacer to take a six-for at home this century.

However, it is his partner who is better at making the old ball a threat. Shami pinned Watling in front of middle with a full-length delivery that curved in late and quite rapidly too. In his next over, he had the No. 10 Neil Wagner lbw as well and New Zealand were all out for 204.

Until then, the most absorbing passage of play was less than ten minutes long and it featured Virat Kohli being unhappy because the umpires were taking the players off Eden Gardens due to a passing shower. But the sun came back out almost immediately and New Zealand`s resistance was soon broken. Things could have come to an end quicker too. But India`s frustration at having to wait over an hour for the first wicket of the day was getting to them.

Ravindra Jadeja, for example, was very unlike himself. He floated the ball up and was driven through cover. He dragged it short and was cut for four. A man who, at home, tends to blitz through the opposition`s tail was being comfortably schooled by New Zealand`s No. 9. Patel was 47 off 44 balls when he went back to a full-length delivery and was lbw. But the check for a no-ball after the wicket revealed Jadeja`s toe had strayed and his airborne heel wasn`t behind the line.

It didn’t matter much in the larger scheme of things, though. Ashwin struck eight balls, and a rain break, later and New Zealand were hustled off.

Source: ESPNcricinfo