Kanpur, Nov 27 (UNI) Axar Patel's fifth fifer in seven innings helped India take crucial lead of 63 runs over New Zealand in their second innings at the end of Day 3 of the first Test at Green Park Stadium here on Saturday.
New Zealand were bowled out for 296, conceding 49 runs lead to India when 20-odd minutes were left in the day.
At stumps, India were 14 for 1 with Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal batting at 9 and 4, respectively. India lost Shubman Gill as he faced the very first ball of Kayle Jamieson. This wicket should have given New Zealand something to cheer about, on a day where nothing went as per their wishes.
Coming out to bat in the morning session with their tails up with 129 for no loss, the openers were aiming at a big lead over the hosts, but the Indian spinners rattled their hopes.
Axar, who ended with figures of 5 for 62, instigated the collapse wherein the Black Caps lost last 9 wickets for 99 runs in 60 overs, indicating the Indian spinners tightening the screws around the batsmen.
Axar found some extra bite on the slow pitch as he bowled quicker through the air and extracted more bounce with the second new ball.
Axar had Ross Taylor (11) as his first of victims as he edged one that turned away from him. He then prized out Henry Nicholls (2) LBW for two runs. The left-armer followed it up by scalping Latham, who lost his concentration after a long vigil at the crease, getting stumped by substitute wicketkeeper Kona Srikar Bharat.
Tom Blundell (13) was done in by a delivery from Axar that kept low. He then rattled Tim Southee's (5) timber to leave visitors eight down.
Apart from Axar, Ravichandran Ashwin was brilliant as he bagged 3 for 82 in 42.3 overs. He removed Kayle Jamieson (23) caught by Axar and then wrapped up the New Zealand innings by knocking down the stumps of Will Somervillie who scored six.
Bharat, who came in as a substitute for the injured Wriddhiman Saha (neck problem), also played his part by grabbing two sharp chances and a stumping.
Earlier, Axar struck thrice in the second session and led India's pull-back by pushing New Zealand into a hole, leaving the visitors struggling at 242 for 6 at tea after they were 197 for two at lunch.
Ravindra Jadeja also had chipped in by dismissing Rachin Ravindra (13) with a sharp turner as New Zealand lost their sixth wicket.
Resuming at 129 for no loss, the Kiwi openers chugged along, but had close shaves. Ashwin eventually broke the first wicket stand of 151 by foxing Young, who edged one to Bharat standing behind.
And at the stroke of lunch, Umesh Yadav got big fish Kane Williamson with the second new ball.
Brief scores: India 345 (Shreyas Iyer 105, Shubman Gill 52, Ravindra Jadeja 50; Tim Southee 5-69) and 14/1 (Kyle Jamieson 1-8) lead New Zealand 296 (Tom Latham 95, Will Young 89; Axar Patel 5-62) by 63 runs.
UNI BDN SHK1823