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Day 3, Report: Rohit Sharma came up with a resolute knock of 82 runs on a two-paced track as India survived a top order collapse to grab the driving seat on a riveting third day of the second Test against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens at Kolkata on Sunday. The hosts reached 227/8 in their second innings at stumps, opening up a comfortable 339-run gulf with their rivals. Earlier in the day, the New Zealand first innings folded at 204, conceding a 112-run lead to the hosts. India had totalled 316 in their opening essay. Rohit (82; 132 b, 9x4, 2x6), who had struck an unbeaten 68 in the first Test at Kanpur, delivered when his side needed the most, as he continued his love affair with the famed ground where he scored 177 against the West Indies in a Test and 264 in a One-Day International opposite Sri Lanka. At close of play, local boy Wriddhiman Saha (39; 87 b, 3x4) was unbeaten – the junior partner in a 103-run seventh wicket stand off 179 balls with Rohit that consolidated India’s position post-tea break. Giving Saha company was Bhuvneshwar Kumar (9; 1x6). [caption id=“attachment_3031780” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ravindra Jadeja celebrates a dismissal with team-mate Rohit Sharma. AP[/caption] Mumbaikar Rohit showed exemplary grit as he earlier combined with skipper Virat Kohli (45, 65 b, 7x4) for a 48-run fifth-wicket partnership at a time India were tottering at 43/4 in the post-lunch session with the Kiwi pacers causing havoc, exploiting the uneven bounce on the wicket. Kiwi quicks Trent Boult (2/28) and Matt Henry (3/44) had virtually brought their side back in contention in the match after lunch by unleashing a barrage of short-pitched offerings which caught the Indians repeatedly on the wrong foot. India lost four star batsmen cheaply, with Henry claiming three of them. Henry picked up Murali Vijay (7) off the fourth ball of the session, with the angled away moving delivery inducing a nick that finished at second slip. The Indian opener had got out to the same bowler in the first innings. The Christchurch-born then saw the back of Cheteshwar Pujara (4) in his next over with a leg before verdict, though television replay indicated that the ball could have missed the leg stump. Dhawan, who was struggling against the rising deliveries and once even took a hit on his left shoulder in the morning, became Boult’s first victim, reducing India to 34/3. The left hander offered a defensive bat to a delivery that cut in, and the leather struck his pad in front of the middle stump. India suffered a further setback when Ajinkya Rahane (1) tried to pull a short ball from Boult and managed only a top edge to long leg. Kohli, whose blade has never quite fired in Test matches at Eden Gardens, played some wonderful strokes, including an out-of-the-world on drive to Henry that rocketed to the fence. He also negotiated well the aggressive Boult, who kept up a nagging line on or a shade out of the off stump hoping for an edge. But Boult finally won the duel with one that kept low bringing the Indian skipper to his knees and hit the pad. Mitchell Santner saw the back of Ravichandran Ashwin (5) close to tea, with the Indian falling leg before- - the fourth batsman to get out in this fashion during the innings. Rohit began cautiously – though he hit an early six off Jeetan Patel – taking 50 deliveries to strike his first four. But once Kohli went back, Sharma took charge, and showed his flair with some elegant shots in the off region, as also a couple of delicate sweeps on the leg side. He got out to a sharp turning ball from Santner that took a fatal edge. Santner tasted another success in the same over, by getting rid of Ravindra Jadeja (6) to finish with figures of 3/51. Saha seemed to be continuing from his valiant unbeaten 54-run opening innings knock as he played a polished innings. In the morning, the visitors’ overnight batsmen put up a gritty fight to cut India’s lead to 112 runs. Comeback man Jeetan Patel (47; 47b, 9x4) and wicketkeeper B.J. Watling (25) stitched together a 60-run stand for the eighth wicket after resuming at the overnight score of 128/7. Patel, who got his highest Test score, luckily survived in the day’s 12th over when a straight one from Ravindra Jadeja caught him rooted to his crease and plumb in front. Patel, who had started the long walk back towards the hut, was called back by the umpire after replays showed the left-arm spinner had overstepped. Patel though failed to capitalise on the “life” provided, falling in the next over to Ravichandran Ashwin. Mohammed Shami (3/46) then removed Watling and Neil Wagner, as the tourists’ innings came to an end 37 minutes before lunch. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/48) was the most successful Indian bowler.
India vs New Zealand, Highlights, Kolkata Test, Day 4: India go No 1 in Tests with win
Catch all the Live updates from Day four of 2nd Test between India and New Zealand in Kolkata.
 "India vs New Zealand, Highlights, Kolkata Test, Day 4: India go No 1 in Tests with win")
Wriddhiman Saha is the Man of the Match for his two half-centuries!
MEET THE NEW No.1 TEST SIDE - #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/q2a38mAYsl
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 3, 2016
Indns win series thumpingly-Kiwis look much worse than they actually R!only competitive players cn keep Test Crkt alive!No room fr tamashas!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) October 3, 2016
Congrats Team India on winning the series&becoming the number 1 team in Tests👏I am sure they will hold this position for a long time👍 @BCCI
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 3, 2016
.@imVkohli has not yet lost a Test at home...in fact he has not even lost a toss at home!#IndvsNZ
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) October 3, 2016
Bhuvneshwar: We generally don’t get these wickets. Throughly enjoyed it. When you’re out of the team, you mature in terms of what is needed to come back into the team. Shami is most lazy in the team, but gives his hundred percent on the field. Its a sweet victory for us.
After 81.1 overs, New Zealand 197 (Neil Wagner 5); India win by 178 runs
Just two more over to go today! Can the hosts end it today itself? OUT! India win by 178 runs! Shami removes Boult, with Vijay taking the catch near short third man to end the game! India are now the No 1 side in the world, and it had to happen in their 250th Test!
Shami bangs in a short on, which Boult top-edges. Vijay shuffles back, and collects the catch! Celebrations all over the park, with the Eden crowd going jubilant at the prospect of dislodging India from the top spot in the ICC Test rankings.
A lot of daily contractors wanting this last wicket pair to bat out the day😊 #INDvNZ
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) October 3, 2016
After 81 overs, New Zealand 197/9 (Neil Wagner 5, Trent Boult 4); Need 179 more to win
New ball taken by the Indians with three more to go after this. Bhuvneshwar handed the new ball. Bhuvi fires a couple of inswingers, giving three runs away in the first two balls. Plenty of rotation of strike between the two this over, which has barely happened in the last few overs. Bhuvi ends the over with a couple of outswingers.
Majority of the press box has become a cheering squad. Embarrassing really. #IndvNZ
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) October 3, 2016
After 80 overs, New Zealand 192/9 (Neil Wagner 2, Trent Boult 2); Need 184 more to win
Shami goes for a loud appeal for lbw in the first ball, but umpire Rod Tucker turns it down. Replays show an inside edge off Wagner’s bat. Another leading edge off Wagner’s bat in the fourth ball, although the ball lands short of Rahane in the slips. New ball due after this over. Wonder if Kohli will introduce another pacer next?
After 79 overs, New Zealand 192/9 (Neil Wagner 2, Trent Boult 2); Need 184 more to win
Jadeja back with the ball. Will he get the final wicket? Well Henry and Boult are blocking the deliveries quite well right now (almost as if its Day 5, and they’s playing for a draw). DROPPED! Gambhir nearly took a blinder at short-leg, but failed to hold on in the last second.
Have a sense Kohli might dedicate the Test number one spot to the soldiers. #IndvsNZ #INDvNZ
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) October 3, 2016
Wriddhiman Saha would be my Man of the Match... two peachy innings on a difficult track, both under pressure! Precious contribution #IndvsNZ
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) October 3, 2016
After 78 overs, New Zealand 192/9 (Neil Wagner 2, Trent Boult 2); Need 184 more to win
Shami returns to the attack in the 78th over, replacing Ashwin (kind of expected wasn’t it?). Meanwhile, the light is getting worse right now, and the extension of play looks bleak. Bowls some good variations — firing a bouncer, followed by a sucker ball. The crowd is on their feet right now, sensing the win. Five overs left.
Sorry, Pakistan. Your reign on top of ICC Test rankings was so short-lived. In any case, it was owed mostly to Caribbean hurricanes #IndVsNZ
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) October 3, 2016
Sorry, Pakistan. Your reign on top of ICC Test rankings was so short-lived. In any case, it was owed mostly to Caribbean hurricanes #IndVsNZ
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) October 3, 2016
Just fantastic watching a Test match at Eden Gardens! Just an awesome ground to play cricket! #Kolkata
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) October 3, 2016
After 77 overs, New Zealand 192/9 (Neil Wagner 2, Trent Boult 2); Need 184 more to win
The equation for India comes down to one wicket after Jadeja manages to remove Henry, with Kohli taking a fine one-handed catch near short cover.
OUT! Superb catch by Kohli at short cover, as Jadeja grabs his third wicket! Henry was looking to drive this flighted delivery along off through the coves, but did not expect the opposition skipper to take a fine one-handed catch!
Matt Henry c Virat Kohli b Ravindra Jadeja 18(44)
After 76 overs, New Zealand 190/8 (Matt Henry 18, Neil Wagner 2); Need 186 more to win
Ashwin starts off with the carrom ball to Wagner at the start of the 76th (trying some variations here is it?). Wagner is blocking away all the deliveries at the moment, which is also the approach by Henry, though he is getting a couple of runs here and there.
After 75 overs, New Zealand 190/8 (Matt Henry 18, Neil Wagner 2); Need 186 more to win
DROPPED! Edged off Henry’s bat, the ball travels the slip-specialist Rahane, who fails to hold on however, as the ball slips out of his grip while going for a dive. Henry survives on 16. To be fair though, the ball was travelling quite quickly. Two runs collected in the final ball to prevent a maiden. Eight overs to go now.
After 74 overs, New Zealand 188/8 (Matt Henry 16, Neil Wagner 2); Need 188 more to win
Spinners bowling the remaining overs in tandem, with Ashwin replacing Bhuvneshwar (Will Mohammed Shami get another shot though?). For the Black Caps, batting the remaining overs out might be something of a moral victory. Maiden for Ashwin. Nine overs left in the day’s play.
After 73 overs, New Zealand 188/8 (Matt Henry 16, Neil Wagner 2); Need 188 more to win
Virat Kohli goes off the field for a bit (probably to catch his breath after all the action in the last few overs!). Henry takes a quick, albeit risky double in the second ball of the over. Plenty of chatter among the Indians (you can sense them going for the kill now).
After 72 overs, New Zealand 186/8 (Matt Henry 14, Neil Wagner 2); Need 190 more to win
Ashwin into the attack for the 72nd over, with spin from both ends now (or is Kohli looking to change bowling from both ends?). Wagner finally gets off the mark in the over, paddling one towards square-leg. Meanwhile, 11 overs left today.
After 71 overs, New Zealand 184/8 (Matt Henry 14, Neil Wagner 0); Need 192 more to win
The hosts are closing in on victory today, and skipper Kohli has set a tight field around the two tail-enders, especially aroundthe off-side. Two runs scored off the 71st over, with Henry running a couple to move to 71. Wagner yet to score.
After 70 overs, New Zealand 182/8 (Matt Henry 12, Neil Wagner 0); Need 194 more to win
The Black Caps barely have any hope from the pair of Henry and Wagner, who find themselves at the crease after a barrage of wickets in the recent overs. Henry sends one towards the extra-cover fence off Jadeja in an act of defiance in the 69th over to move to 12.
Remember India go back to No 1 on the ICC rankings. And it will be heartening that almost every player has contributed to the result.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 3, 2016
OUT! And the hosts are two wickets away from a famous victory now! Bhuvneshwar sends Jeetan Patel’s stumps cartwheelingm, sending the batsman back to the pavilion for 2 off 7 balls. New Zealand lose their eighth wicket with 178 on board! Need another 198 to win with two wickets in hand!
Jeetan Patel b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2(7)
OUT! Jadeja strikes right after the drinks break, and renmoves the last remaining thorn in Luke Ronchi, who departs for 32 after 60 balls! Pitched along middle, Ronchi looks to play across the line on the backfoot, and gets an inside-edge, from where the ball deflects onto his stumps after his pads. The hosts are closing in on a famous win now!
Luke Ronchi b Ravindra Jadeja 32(60)
Ronchi goes. Was on the cards after the last over. Could well be over today if light holds.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 3, 2016
A Bombay Bong with an identity crisis. Passionately follow cricket. Hardcore fan of Team India, the Proteas and junk food. Self-proclaimed shutterbug. see more
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