India surge clear after New Zealand collapse Jadeja

Omnisports

September 24, 2016 12:44 AM

India tore through New Zealand's order before opening up a 215-run lead in the first Test, and Ravindra Jadeja knew the turning point.

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Ravindra Jadeja said the removal of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was key to the first Test swinging in India's favour on day three.

The Black Caps lost four wickets in the opening session on Saturday, with Ravichandran Ashwin bowling Williamson on 75 early in the day.

The tourists managed to regain some composure to reach 255-5, but they only added seven more runs before being skittled.

Jadeja claimed his fifth Test five-for with figures of 5-73 and dismissed Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult in the same over as the Black Caps crumbled.

Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara then notched their second fifties of the match as India reached stumps 159-1, a lead of 215.

Such a strong start to the day played a pivotal role in what followed, according to Jadeja.

He said: "We knew that it is Kane who can really bat for long in their line-up. The plan was to get him out. We know others can't bat for long hours. We got four wickets in the morning session and that was game-changing.

"We knew we have to get one wicket and two-three can fall immediately after that. They were trying to play shots and we knew they will make one or other mistake. We bowled from outside off stump, built pressure and executed our plans well."

Jadeja revealed it was the input from coach Anil Kumble that helped him claim five wickets, four of which came courtesy of an lbw.

"He told me to go wide on the crease and bowl around the sixth stump for the left-hand batsmen because there was rough there," he added.

"He told me to target putting as many balls as possible in that rough because from there, some balls were turning and some were going straight.

"That would have created doubts in the batsmen's minds, so that's what we spoke of."

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