India vs New Zealand: Second Test evenly poised

India’s Ashwin grabs five wicket to peg back New Zealand.

BANGALORE: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged five wickets to throw the second and final Test against New Zealand wide open on the third day in Bangalore.

Ashwin finished with five for 69, his fifth haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings, as New Zealand reached 232 for nine in their second-innings at stumps for an overall lead of 244.

New Zealand paceman Tim Southee earlier grabbed a maiden seven-wicket haul as India were bowled out for 353 in their first-innings in reply to the tourists’ 365. The 23-year-old finished with seven for 64, the best by a New Zealand player in a Test innings in India. Later, Ashwin struck vital blows when he had James Franklin and Kruger van Wyk before accounting for Southee in the last session.

“I don’t think the wicket is doing so much that we have to be worried about the target,” said India batsman Virat Kohli, who completed his century on the third day. “If we bat three-four sessions, we should be in a good position.”

Southee, playing his 19th Test, claimed all of his wickets with the second new ball, conceding 28 runs in his lively eight-over spell.

“I think Southee really bowled very well,” said New Zealand assistant coach Bob Carter. “It was a wonderful performance. Seven wickets in India is not just something that he would remember, that’s what we all would remember as well.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2012.