The contributions of Saha, who scored an unbeaten 54 in the first innings, proved vital to India putting up decent totals. He averaged 18.00 in 2010, 19.00 in 2012, 19.00 in 2014 and 23.18 in 2015.
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In reply to India’s 316 in the first innings, New Zealand were bundled out in the first hour’s play after some late charge by Jeetan Patel (47), who emerged as the top-scorer for the visitors.
Latham and Martin Guptill (24) survived nervous moments before lunch to give New Zealand a solid start with a series-best opening stand of 55.
Shami gets Watling’s leg before wicket and the umpire raises his finger confirming his ouster.
The hosts’ hopes of setting a daunting target appeared to be in jeopardy when they slumped to 43-4 inside the first 14 overs, Matt Henry (3-44) doing the early damage for New Zealand.
However, a 103-run seventh-wicket stand between Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha has nearly sealed any escape route.
There will be no immediate change in India’s reign at the top even if Pakistan and Australia win their respective bilateral Test series against the West Indies and South Africa respectively. However, just before the rain-interruption Ravindra Jadeja had Ronchi plumb in front with the arm ball. Against other bowlers, he scored 148 runs off 178 balls without getting dismissed. Only Clarrie Grimmett had more in as many matches – 216 after 37 Tests.
Praising the Eden Gardens track, which had uneven bounce and gave carry to the pacers, he said: “It was a brilliant Test cricket wicket”.
Twitterati reacted to India dethroning their neighbours as the Number 1 Test side in the world by suggesting that Pakistan wouldn’t be ready to accept that their 6-week stay at the top had ended and ask India and the ICC for proof that India had more points than them. “It was one of my dreams to take five wickets in India”.
Taylor was his third victim and nicked him to first slip, Mitchell Santner – who impressed with the bat in the first Test – then missed a ball that kept low and trapped him lbw for 11. The ones to win it before Saha today were Nayan Mongia, Ajay Ratra and MS Dhoni (twice).
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India’s impressive statistics at home over the last few years – the Kolkata win extended their undefeated streak to 13 on home soil – indicate it will need a spectacular meltdown to dethrone Kohli’s men any time soon. They lead by 339 runs.
