Indore: R Ashwin picked 13 wickets as Virat Kohli-led India completed a series whitewash against New Zealand. Chasing a formidable total of 475 runs, Kane Williamson and his men proved to be a no show as the Indian spinners were once again too hot to handle for them.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Over 44.5 | Score 153/10 | (Watling 23*, Boult 4*)


It's all over! It was that man again! Ashwin picked his seventh wicket of the innings as caught Boult off his own bowling. Ashwin ended with 7/59. Comprehensive win by Kohli and his men!


Over 44 | Score 153/9 | (Watling 23*, Boult 4*)


Kohli is trying eveything! After a brief spell from Yadav, Jadeja and Ashwin are now bowling from both the ends.


Over 40 | Score 143/9 | (Watling 13*, Boult 4*)


The wait for the last wicket continues. Ashwin has been given a short break and Jadeja, along with Umesh Yadav, have been bowling in search of the final wicket. 


Over 35 | Score 138/9 | (Watling 12*, Patel 0*)


There's no stopping Ashwin. After completing his ten-wicket haul in the previous over, Ashwin picked two more wickets – of Jeetan Patel and Matt Henry – to increase his tally to 12 in the match. India are just one-wicket away from series whitewash.


MJ Henry c Mohammed Shami b Ashwin 0 (3b)


JS Patel b Ashwin 0 (2b)


Over 34 | Score 138/7 | (Watling 12*, Patel 0*)


R Ashwin picked another wicket, his tenth of the match when Mitchell Santer was bowled. The Indian spinners are once again running through the Kiwi batting line-up.


Over 31 | Score 134/6 | (Watling 8*, Santner 14*)


Watling and Santner are somehow surviving at the crease. They are going for big strokes as well as the pitch is assisting spinners. Santner has already hit a six.


Over 26 | Score 112/6 | (Watling 1*, Santner 0*)


After Ashwin, it was time for Jadeja to get into action as he dismissed James Neesham and Martin Guptill in quick succession. The Kiwis are wobbling are India now have a chance of bowling out the Kiwis today itself.


MJ Guptill lbw b Jadeja 29 (60b)


JDS Neesham c Kohli b Jadeja 0 (4b)


L Ronchi b Ashwin 15 (18b)


Over 19 | Score 81/3 | (Guptill 13*, Ronchi 1*)


After playing a 25-ball 32, Taylor has been bowled by Ashwin. Ashwin is on his way of claiming another big haul here. Luke Ronchi is the new man in. Martin Guptill is blocking most of the deliveries, which is the right thing to do from New Zealand's perspective.


LRPL Taylor b Ashwin 32 (25b)


Over 12 | Score 46/2 | (Guptill 12*, Taylor 0*)


Ashwin once again got the big wicket of Williamson who was trapped in front of the wicket. The Kiwi skipper was bamboozled once again as he shuffled towards the off side while the ball spun sharply and hit him on the pads. Ross Taylor is the next man in. Can he end the Test series on a high?


KS Williamson lbw b Ashwin 27 (33b)


Over 9 | Score 38/1 | (Guptill 8*, Williamson 23*)


TEA: Umesh Yadav got India an early breakthrough when he trapped Tom Latham in front of the wicket in the second over in New Zealand's second innings. Williamson, batting on 23 is looking in good rhythm. Kiwi need another good hand from Guptill, who hit 72 runs in the first innings.


TWM Latham lbw b Yadav 6 (10b)


Over 49 | Score 216/3 | (Pujara 101*, Rahane 23*)


He has done it! After scoring three fifties in the series, Pujara finally completed a century. He has been in red hot form in the series and he has once again proved which is he a vital cog in this Indian Test team. Kohli declared the innings the moment Pujara reached his ton. It means New Zealand now need 475 runs to win the match.


Over 45 | Score 185/3 | (Pujara 83*, Rahane 10*)


Since Kohli's departure, Pujara and Rahane have been scoring runs quickly. India have a healthy lead and the declaration would depend on how soon can Pujara complete his century.


Over 40 | Score 158/3 | (Pujara 66*)


Kiwis struck after lunch as Kohli was trapped in front of the wicket by Patel. Replays suggested that it was a wrong decision as the ball hit Kohli outside the off-stump. Rahane is the next man in and with a lead of 416 runs, these two will now look to score some quick runs.


V Kohli lbw b Patel 17 (28b)


Over 34 | Score 127/2 | (Pujara 50*, Kohli 2*)


LUNCH: Brilliant session for India. The credit must go to Gautam Gambhir, who hit a brilliant fifty which came at a quick pace. India lost two wickets in the session and scored 109 runs. Pujara too, completed his fourth fifty of the series.


Over 30 | Score 110/2 | (Pujara 39*)


Gautam Gambhir completed his fifty off just 54 balls but perished in the next over. The left-hander used his feet against Jeetan Patel but hit it straight to Guptill. Fine innings comes to an end. Virat Kohli is the next man in.


Over 28 | Score 104/1 | (Pujara 38*, Gambhir 48*)


India have reached 100 runs as Gambhir and Pujara have so far added a 50-run stand for the second wicket. Gambhir is looking in full flow having already hit six boundaries.  


Over 21 | Score 65/1 | (Pujara 21*, Gambhir 24*)


Gambhir and Pujara consolidate India's lead with a decent partnership for second wicket. These two are not taking too many risks but have kept the scoreboard moving. India now lead by 323 runs. These two will have to step up the tempo a bit though.


Over 15 | Score 41/0 | (Pujara 9*, Gambhir 12*)


Murali Vijay's poor run in the series continued as he was unfortunately run-out. Vijay tapped a ball towards short covers and sprinted for a single, Pujara immediately said no, but Vijay was half way down the pitch by then. Dharamsena reckoned it was not-out and it was only after Williamson's appeal that he referred it to third umpire. Gautam Gambhir, who was retired hurt on Day 3, has come to resume his innings.


M Vijay run out 19 (42b)


Over 11 | Score 29/0 | (Vijay 17*, Pujara 6*)


Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara started off the proceedings for India on Day 4. New Zealand missed out on a chance in the 11th over of the second innings when Vijay slapped a short ball from Matt Henry straight towards deep midwicket, where a fielder got under it, but threw it inside near the ropes. Considering the way fielding has revolutionised since the inception of T20 cricket, that catch should have been taken. Neesham was the fielder there. India lead by 287 runs.


Leading by 276 runs with all ten wickets in hand, Virat Kohli and his men would be eyeing another series whitewash.


As a result of R Ashwin's brilliant six-wicket haul, India bowled Kiwis out for just 299 runs compared to their 557/5d.


Resuming play on 23/0 on Day 3, Martin Guptill and Tom Latham frustrated Indian bowlers with a brilliant 118-run stand for the opening wicket. Both the batsmen were looking confident at the crease and even attacked the Indian spinners without any hesitation.


The partnership was broken after Latham hit one back to Ashwin off his own bowling. That was the start of another collapse for the Kiwis as Ashwin spun a web around the Kiwi line-up.


On Day 4, India would like to bat for the first two sessions probably and then let the spinners do the talking yet again.