Ravichandran Ashwin emerged India’s hero, taking 10 wickets, as the hosts bowled out New Zealand for 236 in their second innings to win the first cricket Test by 197 runs on the fifth day at the Green Park here on Monday.

Chasing a daunting 434, the Kiwis were 93 for four at stumps on day four and on Monday lost the remaining six wickets for just 143 runs. Luke Ronchi (80) and Mitchell Santner (71) put up a strong resistance in the first hour of the day but their patience didn’t last long.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (6/132) claimed his 19th five-wicket haul and nailed the final three wickets of the day, while medium pacer Mohammad Shami scalped two wickets on the final day of India’s 500th Test.

Watch Ind vs NZ 1st Test Day 1Highlights | Vijay, Pujara score 50s

Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara hit back to back half centuries

Earlier in the day, New Zealand started the day brightly with Santner and Ronchi dominating the Indian bowlers with aggressive batting in the first hour. They stitched a 102-run partnership for the fifth wicket as they relied on positivity to fend off the Indian bowlers.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Ronchi registered his second fifty in Test cricket as he completed a stroke-filled knock. However, with his score at 80 and his team’s total at 158/4, he lost his wicket, top-edging a Ravindra Jadeja delivery to Ravichandran Ashwin at point. The right-handed batsman hit nine fours and a six.

Later, seamer Mohammad Shami removed B.J. Watling (18) and Mark Craig (1) to demolish the Kiwi lower middle-order. While right-hander Watling struggled to fend off a pacy in-cutter that hit his pads, Craig misread a line as the ball dismantled his stumps as the New Zealanders went to the lunch with 205/7 on scoreboard.

After lunch, it was just a matter of time before India took the remaining three wickets — and they did it easily. Once again, Ashwin delivered the blows to the visitors. 

Santner found a delivery from Ashwin — that turned sharply and bounced more than expected — unplayable and the ball hit the top of the bat before ending in the hands of Rohit Sharma at silly point.

Next to go was right-hander Ish Sodhi (17) who moved across and exposed the stumps to a delivery from Ashwin.

Ashwin then struck Neil Wagner (0) on the pads and got a leg before wicket (LBW) dismissal to seal not only his 10th wicket of the match but also India’s big win.

with inputs from IANS

Indian top order fired to give the hosts a 215-run lead at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand. Murali Vijay (64*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (50*) were at the crease. K L Rahul made a quick fire 38.

Earlier Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bundled out the tourists for 262.

Jadeja finished with yet another five-for, while Ashwin scalped four wickets as both the spinners together accounted for nine wickets to give the hosts a 56 run lead in the first innings.

Watch Ind vs NZ 1st Test Day 1| Vijay, Pujara score half centuries

The Indian bowlers came back strongly on the third day, after a bad second day’s play. Skipper Virat Kohli’s decision of starting the day’s proceedings with spinners paid off well for the hosts.

Murali Vijay hits back to back half centuries

Resuming the day from 152 for one, Kiwi batters got off to a bad start as both the Indian spinners created problems for them with their turn and bounce.

The disciplined bowling of Ashwin got him a wicket at the start as he plumbed overnight batsman Tom Latham at 58 while Jadeja struck the new man Ross Taylor in the very next over via leg before.

Just when the Kiwi batters seemed good at the crease, Ashwin produced another beauty to rip off dangerous Kane Williamson’s off stump. New Zealand were now reeling at 170/4 in just eight overs.

The Kiwi’s middle-order Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner and B Watling somehow tried to hold their innings together but only managed to score 38, 32 and 21 respectively.

After that there was no looking back for India as Jadeja ran through the visitor’s lower-order, taking three wickets in an over to wrap up the innings.

Brief score:

India (First Innings) 318 and 159 for 1 (Rahul 38, Vijay 64*, Pujara 50*, Ish Sodhi 1/0) vs
New Zealand 262 (Williamson 75, Latham 58, Jadeja 5-73, Ashwin 4-93).