New Zealand hold firm before Ashwin's late strike
R Ashwin struck just on the brink of lunch to hamper the start the duo of Tom Latham and Martin Guptill gave New Zealand. Latham and Guptill shared a century stand and gave the visitors just the start they needed, albeit with some luck, on the third day of the final Test at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Monday (October 10) after India piled on runs yesterday.
With Latham getting a leading edge that was pouched by Ashwin easily as a return catch, New Zealand went into lunch at 125 for 1 with the opener's luck finally running out.
Resuming the day on 28, the New Zealand pair was aggressive up front. Not just did they hunt down every possible single, but boundaries flowed in as they put the loose balls away. Indian bowlers' ploy of bowling a lot fuller, drawing the batsmen in to play and the surprise short ball from time to time didn't seem to deter the New Zealand batsmen, whose footwork was on the mark.
Guptill seemed to lack confidence all series and needed one innings to turn that mindset around. His aggressive intent in the right measure, coupled with composure, gave him the platform for a solid innings. He also enjoyed a wee bit of luck during his unbeaten knock.
Ajinkya Rahane dropped Guptill early in the day when an edge flew to gully. Rahane, who has an otherwise safe pair of hands, dropped his second catch in two games. Guptill attacked the pacemen to bring up a half-century after seven innings. He remained unbeaten on 59 when lunch was called.
Latham, too, had his fair share of luck before it ran out. He got a big inside edge that lobbed to first slip off his boot, which umpire Bruce Oxenford missed. Ravindra Jadeja was shell-shocked as the umpire adjudged it not out. However, Ashwin made up for it the next over as Latham perished for 53.
The heat in Indore seems to be getting to the visitors. Guptill looked drained as he perched an ice pack on his head. Yesterday, Boult was seen do the same when New Zealand were being punished by the pair of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who shared a record 365-run stand.
While Latham had seven boundaries in his fifty, Gutpill has eight fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 59. Kane Williamson, who just made his way to the middle, will resume batting on 3 in the second session. In a first session where 30 overs were bowled, New Zealand scored 97 runs at a healthy rate, still trailing by 432.
With Latham getting a leading edge that was pouched by Ashwin easily as a return catch, New Zealand went into lunch at 125 for 1 with the opener's luck finally running out.
Resuming the day on 28, the New Zealand pair was aggressive up front. Not just did they hunt down every possible single, but boundaries flowed in as they put the loose balls away. Indian bowlers' ploy of bowling a lot fuller, drawing the batsmen in to play and the surprise short ball from time to time didn't seem to deter the New Zealand batsmen, whose footwork was on the mark.
Guptill seemed to lack confidence all series and needed one innings to turn that mindset around. His aggressive intent in the right measure, coupled with composure, gave him the platform for a solid innings. He also enjoyed a wee bit of luck during his unbeaten knock.
Ajinkya Rahane dropped Guptill early in the day when an edge flew to gully. Rahane, who has an otherwise safe pair of hands, dropped his second catch in two games. Guptill attacked the pacemen to bring up a half-century after seven innings. He remained unbeaten on 59 when lunch was called.
Latham, too, had his fair share of luck before it ran out. He got a big inside edge that lobbed to first slip off his boot, which umpire Bruce Oxenford missed. Ravindra Jadeja was shell-shocked as the umpire adjudged it not out. However, Ashwin made up for it the next over as Latham perished for 53.
The heat in Indore seems to be getting to the visitors. Guptill looked drained as he perched an ice pack on his head. Yesterday, Boult was seen do the same when New Zealand were being punished by the pair of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who shared a record 365-run stand.
While Latham had seven boundaries in his fifty, Gutpill has eight fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 59. Kane Williamson, who just made his way to the middle, will resume batting on 3 in the second session. In a first session where 30 overs were bowled, New Zealand scored 97 runs at a healthy rate, still trailing by 432.
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