Photo: International Cricket Council/X
India found themselves in a precarious position at 86-4 in their response after spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar played pivotal roles in bowling out New Zealand for 235 on the first day of the third Test on Friday. By the end of the fast-paced opening day at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, the hosts were trailing New Zealand by 149 runs, with the pitch favoring the spinners. Shubman Gill, with 31 runs, and Rishabh Pant, on one, were at the crease when stumps were drawn, following New Zealand's Mumbai-born spinner Ajaz Patel's double strike in two consecutive deliveries. Patel dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for 30 while he attempted a reverse sweep, and then India's strategy of sending in a nightwatchman backfired as Mohammed Siraj was trapped lbw. However, New Zealand's most significant moment came when a direct throw from Matt Henry ran out Virat Kohli for four. Skipper Rohit Sharma was the first to depart, edging a delivery from pace bowler Henry to be caught at second slip for 18. The left-handed Jaiswal and Gill managed to put on 53 runs to counter the opposition spinners, but Patel eventually broke through with his left-arm orthodox spin. New Zealand batsmen Will Young scored 71 and Daryl Mitchell hit 82, as the tourists chose to bat first in an attempt to secure a series sweep. Jadeja claimed 5-65 with his left-arm spin, while off-spinner Sundar took four wickets, including the final two batsmen, Mitchell and Patel, to conclude the innings in 65.4 overs during the final session. Mitchell, who reached his fifty before tea, tried to stabilize the innings after a 87-run fourth-wicket partnership with Young, but Sundar eventually got him out. Mitchell required frequent hydration as he appeared fatigued by the heat and humidity during his 129-ball knock, which featured three fours and three sixes. Jadeja delivered regular breakthroughs and took two wickets in one over on two occasions, earning his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Young reached his fifty shortly after lunch with a straight six off Sundar. Jadeja eventually got Young caught at slip and struck again within four deliveries, when wicketkeeper Tom Blundell was bowled for a duck. Devon Conway was out for four before New Zealand skipper Tom Latham, who made 28, and Young attempted to steady the innings in a 44-run partnership for the second wicket. Off-spinner Sundar bowled around the wicket to dismiss the left-handed Latham, who advanced to defend a delivery that pitched and straightened to dislodge the off-stump. Sundar once again thrilled the crowd when he bowled left-handed Rachin Ravindra, who leads the batting charts in the series with 252 runs, for five. The Black Caps secured their first-ever Test series victory on Indian soil last week with a win in the second match in Pune.
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