Ravichandran Ashwin’s six-wicket haul extends India’s dominance on Day 3

New Zealand reached 28-0 at stumps on day two of the third test against India on Sunday but still trail the hosts by 529 runs.

Gautam Gambhir had a problem with his right shoulder and had to retire hurt for 6.

On Day three, it was their openers, Tom Latham and Martin Guptill, who formed a neat base for the team to launch a fightback with the bat.

Losing the toss was never going to help the tourists as they were made to field first, and despite bowling economically they couldn’t shut down Virat Kohli as he scored an unbeaten century guiding India too 3 for 267 by the time stumps rolled around.

Meanwhile, Hesson had nothing but praise for the batting of Indian captain Virat Kohli (211) and Ajinkya Rahane, who combined for an imposing fourth-wicket partnership of 365.

Latham added 118 runs with Guptill for the first century-plus opening stand of the series before giving a return catch to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to depart after a well-made 53 which included seven boundaries.

Trent Boult was last man out, caught in the deep off Ashwin, as the Black Caps surrendered a first innings’ lead of 258 runs.

After being cautioned multiple times, the spinner’s fourth infringement handed New Zealand five penalty runs and he was later fined 50 per cent of his match fee and given three demerit points by the ICC.

Ravi Ashwin’s off spin has continued to dominate the test series between New Zealand and India as he ripped through the visitors on the third day of the third test.

To New Zealand’s credit, they did not give up tamely and James Neesham, brought in the side to strengthen the batting, used the long handle rather effectively to score a confident 71 runs before Ashwin returned with the second new ball to polish off the tail.

Watling then added 53 with Jimmy Neesham for the sixth wicket and fell for 23 when Jadeja got him caught by Rahane.

The first hour of play produced 66 runs in only 16 overs as the New Zealand attack wilted against the Kohli-Rahane onslaught.

At the fall of Ronchi, Ashwin sported superb figures of 4 for 44 in 18.1 overs and at tea it read four for 65. Both Guptill and Latham played strokes at will and defied any challenge from Indian bowlers.

Latham survived a couple of chances as well, with one dropping just short of Jadeja, also off Shami, while Jadeja was the bowler when a sweep shot came off the left-hander’s boot and was taken at first slip by Rahane.