India win by 321 runs
The fourth day started with all eyes on India's batting. There was only one way they were going to go and that was to push for quick runs and a declaration. They managed to do that through Cheteshwar Pujara's ton but the momentum was taken forward by Ravichandran Ashwin, yet again, as wickets fell in quick succession and New Zealand were bowled out in less than forty five overs, rather embarrassingly. In what is seemingly becoming a ritual these days, Ashwin bagged a ten-wicket haul to hasten the end and capped off a perfect day for India.
India started the day waiting for the track to wear out further and in the process look to score as many runs as possible. The bid was started by Pujara and Murali Vijay, but the latter didn't last too long, run out while being a trifle lazy in getting back to his crease. New Zealand were on the money with their fielding and tried to keep the intensity up with a string of dives and throws at the stumps which didn't allow the batsmen to relax.
But Gambhir and Pujara were prepared to counter it. The former, in particular, was a lot more attacking and got to a quick fifty, hitting six boundaries. He was good at working the spinners around and kept turning the strike over with ease. However, he found the man at extra cover while trying to get on top of Jeetan Patel. He had done his job though on comeback. Fighting past a shoulder injury, he kick-started the process of getting quick runs and also ensured that his return to the side didn't go unnoticed.
Pujara was not able to go at the same pace. He tried driving hard but regularly found the fielders. He was still good enough to get to his fifty just before Lunch as India went in with an overall lead of 385 runs.
The second session was where India were looking to switch gears. Virat Kohli was potentially the man to do the job but he was given out LBW for 17. Replays showed that the umpire had made a definite mistake in judgement. Kohli was struck outside off while missing a sweep against Patel. That didn't deter India too long.
Often criticised in recent times for having a poor strike-rate, Pujara showed that he had another gear at his disposal and took it upon himself to get the quick runs. His strike-rate moved close to 70 as he scored the second half of his century at close to run-a-ball. His running between the wickets along with a busy Rahane was excellent and New Zealand's run-saving plans weren't too successful with Pujara bringing out paddle sweeps and cut shots to get regular boundaries. India's lead swelled past 450 and they waited on for Pujara to get to his ton. The lead was already enough for them to declare and and soon after Pujara got to his eighth Test ton, India had enough of batting.
Pujara's 101 off 148 balls was clearly the highlight of the innings and India were now ready to have a go at New Zealand for a short while before the Tea break. The target of 475 was probably a little too high for the visitors to take an attempt at, but they had 135 overs to bat out to save the Test.
For that they would have wanted Tom Latham, their most consistent batsman of the series to bat long. Those hopes were scuttled when Umesh Yadav angled one in from around the wicket to trap him plumb in front. This was a plan that the seamers had been working on all series against Latham and it worked perfectly this time. The crowd was getting into the act by now, cheering louder than they had done all day. New Zealand went into Tea at 38 for one, with a mountain to climb.
To make matters worse, Kane Williamson was out in the second over after Tea to Ashwin (for the fourth time in the series) again for 27. He was looking to play Ashwin on the onside through this innings after being out three times in the series trying to jam him on the offside. This time though he was out off a very similar delivery that got him the previous three times - pitching on a good length wide outside off and spinning in sharply. Williamson looked to work it away on the onside but missed and was caught plumb in front. At 42 for two, New Zealand's hopes were dying a quick death. Martin Guptill gave a chance in the very next over, edging one from Jadeja but Rahane at slip was late to react to it.
By now, New Zealand and Ross Taylor in particular were aiming to reverse the pressure. The spinners were getting in on a roll and on a wearing pitch, it would have been impossible to keep defending. Taylor launched a counter-attack scoring a boundary-filled 32 but India and Ashwin weren't going to relent from attacking. Soon enough, Ashwin caught him missing a sweep and got him bowled. New Zealand were now 80 for three.
There was a change in approach with the bat but it wasn't working as well as they would have wanted to. The spin twins were in their elements now. The crowd was behind them, the batsmen were unsure of how the pitch was going to direct the ball, the fielders around the bat were ready to pounce on any mistake. Luke Ronchi got one that stayed low while turning in, becoming Ashwin's third victim. James Neesham chipped on gently to short mid wicket. At 103 for 5 in just 24 overs and with 21 more to go, New Zealand were in danger of not even lasting the day.
Jadeja ended Guptill's stay with a trademark delivery that went straight on. The end looked inevitable and could have come sooner had Santner not survived two close LBW calls against Mohammed Shami. But, he went for 14 as the seventh wicket with a slightly bemused look.
An Ashwin off-break went off the inside edge onto his pads before rolling onto the stumps. Ashwin had his sixth ten-wicket haul in Tests. He soon got his 21st five-fer as well and ended with a haul of 7 for 59, his best in a Test innings, as India completed a 3-0 sweep
Ashwin
What a machine India have at their disposal. He's just gobbling up wickets at will! He's gone three more, cleaning up Santner with a straighter one, dismissing Patel who tried to sweep a full ball and missed and then Matt Henry lobbed one to Mohammed Shami at mid-off. India are one wicket away from a series sweep.
The fourth day started with all eyes on India's batting. There was only one way they were going to go and that was to push for quick runs and a declaration. They managed to do that through Cheteshwar Pujara's ton but the momentum was taken forward by Ravichandran Ashwin, yet again, as wickets fell in quick succession and New Zealand were bowled out in less than forty five overs, rather embarrassingly. In what is seemingly becoming a ritual these days, Ashwin bagged a ten-wicket haul to hasten the end and capped off a perfect day for India.
India started the day waiting for the track to wear out further and in the process look to score as many runs as possible. The bid was started by Pujara and Murali Vijay, but the latter didn't last too long, run out while being a trifle lazy in getting back to his crease. New Zealand were on the money with their fielding and tried to keep the intensity up with a string of dives and throws at the stumps which didn't allow the batsmen to relax.
But Gambhir and Pujara were prepared to counter it. The former, in particular, was a lot more attacking and got to a quick fifty, hitting six boundaries. He was good at working the spinners around and kept turning the strike over with ease. However, he found the man at extra cover while trying to get on top of Jeetan Patel. He had done his job though on comeback. Fighting past a shoulder injury, he kick-started the process of getting quick runs and also ensured that his return to the side didn't go unnoticed.
Pujara was not able to go at the same pace. He tried driving hard but regularly found the fielders. He was still good enough to get to his fifty just before Lunch as India went in with an overall lead of 385 runs.
The second session was where India were looking to switch gears. Virat Kohli was potentially the man to do the job but he was given out LBW for 17. Replays showed that the umpire had made a definite mistake in judgement. Kohli was struck outside off while missing a sweep against Patel. That didn't deter India too long.
Often criticised in recent times for having a poor strike-rate, Pujara showed that he had another gear at his disposal and took it upon himself to get the quick runs. His strike-rate moved close to 70 as he scored the second half of his century at close to run-a-ball. His running between the wickets along with a busy Rahane was excellent and New Zealand's run-saving plans weren't too successful with Pujara bringing out paddle sweeps and cut shots to get regular boundaries. India's lead swelled past 450 and they waited on for Pujara to get to his ton. The lead was already enough for them to declare and and soon after Pujara got to his eighth Test ton, India had enough of batting.
Pujara's 101 off 148 balls was clearly the highlight of the innings and India were now ready to have a go at New Zealand for a short while before the Tea break. The target of 475 was probably a little too high for the visitors to take an attempt at, but they had 135 overs to bat out to save the Test.
For that they would have wanted Tom Latham, their most consistent batsman of the series to bat long. Those hopes were scuttled when Umesh Yadav angled one in from around the wicket to trap him plumb in front. This was a plan that the seamers had been working on all series against Latham and it worked perfectly this time. The crowd was getting into the act by now, cheering louder than they had done all day. New Zealand went into Tea at 38 for one, with a mountain to climb.
To make matters worse, Kane Williamson was out in the second over after Tea to Ashwin (for the fourth time in the series) again for 27. He was looking to play Ashwin on the onside through this innings after being out three times in the series trying to jam him on the offside. This time though he was out off a very similar delivery that got him the previous three times - pitching on a good length wide outside off and spinning in sharply. Williamson looked to work it away on the onside but missed and was caught plumb in front. At 42 for two, New Zealand's hopes were dying a quick death. Martin Guptill gave a chance in the very next over, edging one from Jadeja but Rahane at slip was late to react to it.
By now, New Zealand and Ross Taylor in particular were aiming to reverse the pressure. The spinners were getting in on a roll and on a wearing pitch, it would have been impossible to keep defending. Taylor launched a counter-attack scoring a boundary-filled 32 but India and Ashwin weren't going to relent from attacking. Soon enough, Ashwin caught him missing a sweep and got him bowled. New Zealand were now 80 for three.
There was a change in approach with the bat but it wasn't working as well as they would have wanted to. The spin twins were in their elements now. The crowd was behind them, the batsmen were unsure of how the pitch was going to direct the ball, the fielders around the bat were ready to pounce on any mistake. Luke Ronchi got one that stayed low while turning in, becoming Ashwin's third victim. James Neesham chipped on gently to short mid wicket. At 103 for 5 in just 24 overs and with 21 more to go, New Zealand were in danger of not even lasting the day.
Jadeja ended Guptill's stay with a trademark delivery that went straight on. The end looked inevitable and could have come sooner had Santner not survived two close LBW calls against Mohammed Shami. But, he went for 14 as the seventh wicket with a slightly bemused look.
An Ashwin off-break went off the inside edge onto his pads before rolling onto the stumps. Ashwin had his sixth ten-wicket haul in Tests. He soon got his 21st five-fer as well and ended with a haul of 7 for 59, his best in a Test innings, as India completed a 3-0 sweep
Ashwin
What a machine India have at their disposal. He's just gobbling up wickets at will! He's gone three more, cleaning up Santner with a straighter one, dismissing Patel who tried to sweep a full ball and missed and then Matt Henry lobbed one to Mohammed Shami at mid-off. India are one wicket away from a series sweep.
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