Jadeja, Washington spin New Zealand out for 235

Innings New Zealand 235 (Mitchell 82, Young 71, Jadeja 5-65, Washington 4-81) vs India

Mitchell didn’t farm the strike with No. 10 for company, but eventually made a mental error by guiding a flat delivery straight to slip just like how coaches do during catching drills. Not before having scored 82, though. Ajaz Patel, on who lies the onus to improve dramatically from Pune, hit a six before padding up to one that didn’t turn, giving Washington his fourth wicket.

Well as fast as they could run, that is. With temperatures hitting 37 degree in the afternoon, the high humidity, and little breeze, players lost fluids rapidly. Their shirts clung to their bodies with sweat, drinks came on almost every three overs, and iced towels and ice packs were used liberally. Mitchell in particular struggled the most, but fought on to go unbeaten into the tea break.

Missing Japsirt Bumrah because of viral illness, India began with Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj after Latham won another important toss. Akash Deep used the angle from around the wicket well to trap Devon Conway lbw, but Latham and Young got off to comfortable starts. They added 44 for the second wicket with relative ease before Washington, the second spinner used, turned a beauty past Latham’s outside edge. What made this more vexing was that an almost identical delivery – same seam orientation, same spot on the pitch, had gone straight on to beat his inside edge.

If Latham was bowled top of off, Rachin Ravindra fell to a similar beauty middle of the off stump. As the pundits expected, the pitch turned appreciably in the first session. The last half hour leading up to the lunch tested both the edges of Young and Mitchell as the natural variation from the pitch increased.

Post lunch, though, there was a period of play when the pitch went to sleep. Every now and then, the ball turned if Jadeja slowed it down, but he was looking for quick turn. He kept at it, displaying his superior fitness by bowling through the session even as others took long breaks between overs.

Young and Mitchell, though, looked at ease. The sweeps and reverse-sweeps were employed to good effect, but Young also danced down the wicket to languidly loft the ball. This was Young’s first fifty of the series even though he has given the impression he has been the most comfortable batter on either side.

Washington, Siraj and Ashwin bowled from the other end, but Jadeja kept going. Towards the end of the session, though, the ball started turning even at higher pace for Jadeja. Now he was in it. Young edged to slip one that turned at 94kph. Three balls later, Blundell saw one pitch on leg and hit off at 92kph.

Jadeja stuck to his work, and took out Glenn Phillips with one that didn’t turn, reducing New Zealand to 187 for 6. Mitchell kept battling on through cramps and dehydration to make sure the Test stayed even at the tea break.