New Zealand on Saturday lost eight wickets for 99 runs as India bundled them for 296 in the first innings of the Kanpur Test. Ajinkya Rahane and company, at stumps on the third day, led the Kiwis by 63 runs. 

From being comfortably perched at 151/0 to falling within 145 runs, New Zealand faced an epic collapse at the hands of Indian spinners on Saturday. Axar Patel continued his golden run in favourable home conditions, grabbing another five-wicket haul, Ravichandran Ashwin came back with three and Ravindra Jadeja with one against Kane Williamson’s men. 

The day started with Kiwi openers Will Young and Tom Latham at the crease. The two had stitched a 151-run stand before Ashwin’s low-lying delivery and change of angle deceived the former as substitute wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat took a brilliant catch. Young was dismissed for 11 runs short of what would have been his maiden Test century.

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Next to fall was Kane Williamson. The skipper managed 18 runs and was done in by Umesh Yadav’s in-cutter at the stroke of lunch. 

Then started the collapse. 

The next two sessions belonged to India as they got eight wickets for just 99 runs. Axar Patel’s perseverance paid off as he changed his line from leg-middle to off-middle and the release was at a greater speed when compared to what he did on the second evening.

Patel got rid of Ross Taylor (11), Henry Nicholls (2) and Latham within a space of 13 runs to upset the Black Caps’ rhythm.

There was a delivery that had a bit of air and pitched on length drawing Taylor forward and then turned enough to take an outside edge which went to KS Bharat. Nicholls also tried sweeping a much fuller delivery which turned back in and was trapped in front of the wicket.

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Axar used a tweak at a decent clip to see Latham beaten all ends up. Bharat fumbled before he could effect the stumping. The opener scored 95 runs. 

Later on, the left-arm bowler got Tom Bundell (13 off 94 balls), who looked to merely survive and finally got a ‘shooter’ that cleaned his defence.

Southee became his fifth victim trying to play inside an arm ball which turned enough to hit the off-stump.

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Ashwin, who was involved in an animated argument with umpire Nitin Menon, came back with three scalps. After dismissing Will Young, the 35-year-old cleaned New Zealand’s tail. Jadeja bowled Rachin Ravindra.

Coming out to bat in the last session, India lost Shubman Gill for cheap. The hosts were 14/1 at stumps.