New Zealand all out for 299; India reach 18/0 in 2nd innings

A splendid six-wicket effort from Ravichandran Ashwin saw India maintain their stranglehold on New Zealand and remain firmly on course for a 3-0 series whitewash at the end of third day’s play in the final Test on Monday.

Riding on Ashwin’s brilliant figures of 6/81, India bowled out New Zealand for 299, taking a first innings lead of 258 runs.

Virat Kohli, however, did not enforce the follow-on and India were 18 for no loss at stumps increasing their overall lead to 276 runs. Veteran opener Gautam Gambhir was retired hurt on six after sustaining a shoulder injury going for a second run. At stumps, Cheteshwar Pujara (1) and M Vijay (11) were at the crease.

Ashwin, who grabbed 10 wickets in the series opener at Kanpur and four in the second match at Kolkata, also ran out two batsmen off his own bowling. His spin partner Ravindra Jadeja accounted for the other two wickets in the visitors’ innings.

With two days left in the game, India looks well poised to score another victory for a clean sweep of the series.

Brief scores:

India: 557/5 decl & 18 for no loss after 6 overs

New Zealand 1st Innings: 299 all out in 90.2 overs (Martin Guptill 72, Jimmy Neesham 71, Tom Latham 53, R Ashwin 6/81).