India took just around 45 minutes to complete a 372-run win against New Zealand in the second Test match, at the Wankhede Stadium, to wrap up the series 1-0. This is India’s biggest victory margin in Tests. Jayant Yadav took four of the five wickets on the final morning, and R. Ashwin the other, to deprive each other of their respective five-wicket hauls.
New Zealand started the day on 140/5. India started with two off-spinners against two left-handers. Jayant, who had gone wicketless yesterday, provided the first blow. Rachin Ravindra (18) swept him for consecutive boundaries before being caught at slip by Cheteshwar Pujara.
Jayant went on to pick up two more wickets in his next over. He trapped Kyle Jamieson leg before (a review could not save him), while Tim Southee went for a wild slog and was bowled. He got Will Somerville, too, caught by Mayank Agarwal at short leg.
Having witnessed the collapse at the other end, Henry Nicholls (44) tried to take on Ashwin, missed, and was no match for Wriddhiman Saha's glovework. Ashwin finished with match figures of 8-42 (4-8 and 4-34). His 14 wickets earned him the Player of the Series award.
The win helped India earn key points in the World Test Championship. They are now placed third, behind Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
With the squad for the South Africa tour likely to be announced later this week, the performances of the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, K.S. Bharat, and the India A players have probably made the job of the selectors tougher. Of course, it is a problem of plenty...
Brief scores: India 325 (Mayank Agarwal 150; Ajaz Patel 10-119) and 276/7 decl. (Mayank Agarwal 62; Ajaz Patel 4-106) beat New Zealand 62 (Kyle Jamieson 17; R. Ashwin 4-8) and 167 (Daryl Mitchell 60; R. Ashwin 4-34) by 372 runs. Player of the Match: Mayank Agarwal.
India won the series 1-0. Player of the Series: R. Ashwin.