Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara brought up their second century stand of the match as India took complete control of the first Test against New Zealand on day three in Kanpur. After Ravindra Jadeja's fifth five-wicket haul in Tests helped bowl the Kiwis out for 262 in the post-lunch session, the only blemish in India's performance on Saturday was the wicket of KL Rahul, who edged off-spinner Mark Craig to the slips after an aggressive 38(50). However, the Indians did not lose any more wickets in the day and, at stumps, their score was 159/1 and the lead a very healthy 215.
However, India, and New Zealand for that matter, will remember that this was around the time that their collapse began in the first innings. Even the Kiwi first innings went down the drain in what have become the nervous 150s in this Test match. The visitors will be deflated, but know they are still not completely out of the game yet.
India started the final session in a hurry, with Pujara and Vijay hitting six boundaries in the first 12 balls after the break. There was a point when Pujara, who has a reputation of being one of the most defensive batsmen playing international cricket, was on 20 off just 12 balls. The Indians eventually settled down and frustrated the Kiwis, who face a daunting task to save this Test over the next two days.
India won the battle of the nerves, even as Neil Wagner tried to rile up the batsmen with a relentless short-pitched leg-stump line. Vijay almost caved, as he shuffled across and tried to whip the left-arm pacer to the fine-leg fence, but missed. Thankfully for the Indian, the ball missed his edge, barely.
Both teams have now won four sessions each, but India are far ahead in the overall scheme of things. Only another massive collapse can come in the way of the hosts and a 1-0 lead in this three-Test series.
