KANPUR, SEPTEMBER 25: India positioned themselves for a massive win in their 500th cricket Test by polishing off the New Zealand top-order after setting them a colossal 434-run target, propelled by unbeaten half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja here on Sunday.
New Zealand were tottering at 93 for four in their second innings with the exuberant Luke Ronchi (38) and the steady Mitchell Santner (8) at the crease when stumps were drawn on the fourth day.
The Black Caps require a history-defying effort to win the Test as no team has ever chased such a daunting target.
They still need 341 runs and batting three sessions on a fifth-day wicket is not something visiting teams have achieved often in India.
Earlier, negotiating a spin-friendly track with aplomb, Rohit (68) and Jadeja (50) raised a 100-run stand in quick time after India lost four wickets, starting the day at 159 for one. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner dismissed two batsmen while Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig claimed a wicket apiece but only to see the next Indian pair hammer them around the park as India declared their second innings at 377 for five at the stroke of tea. Rohit and Jadeja never looked uncomfortable on the deteriorating fourth-day Green Park track, entertaining the Sunday crowd with some quality strokes, including three sixes by the left-hander.
However, when Indian spinners bowled, New Zealand batsmen were were all at sea on the pitch as off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed both the openers -- Martin Guptill (0) and Tom Latham (2) -- in the space of five balls to cause ripples in the rival camp.
Guptill was first to go by handing an inside edge to forward short-leg fielder while left-handed Latham was caught in front of the wicket while defending.
Ashwin could have got Kane Williamson (25), when he was on 16, had Umesh Yadav held on to a tough chance at square leg boundary but the off-spinner did not have to wait for long to see the back of the New Zealand captain as he trapped him soon and completed a milestone of 200 Test wickets.
A run out was the last thing that New Zealand needed but Ross Taylor blundered by not grounding his bat even when he had made the crease, attempting a couple of runs with Ronchi.
Ravichandran Ashwin fastest Indian to reach 200 wickets
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday became the fastest Indian and second overall to take 200 wickets, reaching the milestone in his 37th Test. Ashwin trapped New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson in front to get to the 200-mark on day four of the first Test at the Green Park.
The spinner had also got the better of Williamson in the first innings, when he went through the defence of the visiting captain with a vicious off-spinner. With this feat, Ashwin left behind the likes of Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis, who took 38 Tests to get to 200 wickets. South African pacer Dale Steyn took 39 Tests to reach the landmark.
Only leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett got to the double century of wickets faster than Ashwin as the Australian reached there in 36 Tests.
"Ever since coming back from Australia (in 2014-15), I have been enjoying my last 100 wickets. I was planning my wickets better," said Ashwin after stumps on day four.
"The challenge from the opposition is always good. For example, Williamson was playing really well. Taylor was playing back. It's a combination of playing good batsmen, conditions and match situations that makes this satisfying.
"I think its too early to talk about my achievements I have a long way to go. (12 more Tests to go in the season) Very important to take one day at a time, Test cricket can set you back if you take it for granted. Be greedy in terms of what you want to achieve, but preparing for a Test, you have to take it one day at a time," he added.
