India made a historic win in the 500th test match against New Zealand at Kanpur. India’s match against New Zealand was the the country’s 500th, a feat achieved only by England, Australia and the West Indies.
About the 500th test match :
Chasing down a target of 434 was never a realistic equation for New Zealand and with only six wickets in hand going in to the final day of India’s 500th Test match, the question was how soon will India wrap the 1st India vs New Zealand Test match at Green Park, Kanpur to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
While New Zealand delayed the inevitable with good resistance in the morning session, India broke down their defence to register a thumping 197-run win 14.3 overs in to the second session.- Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara’s twin fifties in the match proved to be the fulcrum of India’s batting while Ravindra Jadeja too had a stellar match claiming five for 73 in the first innings before scoring 42* and 50* lower-down the order.
- Mohammad Shami, who failed to get any wickets in the first innings, made a telling impact with the old ball to accelerate India’s march towards victory claiming two quick wickets late in the morning session on Day 5 with reverse swing.
- New Zealand went in to lunch on the final day at 205 for seven with no chance of saving the match. After Shami’s two quick strikes before the break, Ashwin completed the formalities taking the remaining three wickets.
- Mitchell Santner resisted well but was the first wicket to fall in the post lunch session when Ashwin ripped one to the legside.
- Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja did get appreciable turn and bounce from the Green Park strip but failed to get any breakthrough early. Similar to the first innings, Ronchi used his feet to great effect.
- He rocked back early to the deliveries which were marginally short and came forward without much apprehension to the ones tossed up. But a lapse in concentration right after drinks break led to Ronchi’s dismissal after he had scored 80 off 120 balls with the help of nine fours and a six.
- He went for a slog sweep to a flatter delivery from Jadeja and playing against the turn, managed a leading edge to point.
While New Zealand delayed the inevitable with good resistance in the morning session, India broke down their defence to register a thumping 197-run win 14.3 overs in to the second session.Aswin’s 200th wicket :
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the 30-year-old surpassed legends Waqar Younis and Dennis Lillee to become the second fastest bowler to claim 200 Test wickets.
- Ashwin achieved the milestone in his 37th Test match, bettering Waqar and Lillee, who both took 38 Tests.
- Ashwin dismissed four frontline batsmen on Day 3 and along with Ravindra Jadeja, who bagged his career’s fifth five-wicket haul, dismantled New Zealand for 262 in the first innings.
- Ashwin has been in terrific form this year and is winning India matches not only with his exceptional bowling but also by batting brilliantly.
- Ashwin is also India’s most successful Test bowler at home in the last two years, ahead of Jadeja and leg-spinner Amit Mishra. In the last five Test matches at home, Ashwin has grabbed a whopping 35 wickets, including 4 five-wicket hauls, at an average of 12.51.
