Ashwin’s 6-31 forces Black Cap follow-on

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s six-wicket haul put India in control of the first Test against New Zealand, leading by 238 runs at the end of the third day and needing nine more wickets to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.

Ashwin claimed a career-best 6-31 as New Zealand were bowled out for 159 and asked to follow-on after India had scored 438 in their first innings.

Ashwin took three wickets in the first session to surpass his previous best of 6-47 against West Indies in his debut Test at New Delhi last year.

New Zealand were 41-1 in their second innings when bad light and showers forced an early tea break and a subsequent calling off of play with only 37.3 overs of play possible.

Brendon McCullum was 16 not out and Kane Williamson unbeaten on three. India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who supported Ashwin well to take 3-25 in the first innings and dismissed opener Martin Guptill in the second innings, said things were falling in place for India. “As a spinner, you’ve to play with the patience of batsmen. But when it’s turning, it’s a bonus,” he said.

Earlier in the morning, New Zealand’s batting line-up folded in only one session.

Left-hander James Franklin remained not out on 43 off 142 balls with a four and a six, but was left helpless as he watched wickets fall regularly from the non-striker’s end.

New Zealand failed to show any fight, even before Ashwin had been put into the attack.

Overnight batsman Kruger van Wyk departed to the tenth delivery of the day when he shaped up to play a pull shot off pace bowler Umesh Yadav but was trapped leg before wicket without scoring.

Doug Bracewell looked comfortable in the middle and had scored 17 off 25 balls before he left his crease to a delivery from Pragyan Ojha that was well outside off stump, allowing Dhoni to make an easy stumping.

Ashwin was the last of the specialist bowlers to be introduced into the attack in the morning, despite being the most successful on Friday, but he soon took a low return catch to dismiss Jeetan Patel for ten.

Ashwin completed his five-wicket haul when he had Trent Boult caught by Gautam Gambhir at short-leg, and then bowled 
No.11 Chris Martin with the very next delivery.

The second test will be held in Bangalore from 31 August. The Test series will be followed by two Twenty20 games.