Dramatic NZ collapse help India win match, series

From a comfortable 135 runs for the loss of 3 wickets at tea, the Kiwis were bowled out for 197 runs, seven of those wickets coming in the last session as pace and spin wreaked havoc.

India had registered a 197-run win in the first match and managed a win 178 runs here, but with the keeping in mind the kind of pitch they had to battle, it would be ranked higher than their previous win as this takes them to the top of the ICC rankings chart.

The win was a culmination of a number of good individual performances.

Wriddhiman Saha, Bhubneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Mohammad Shami and Rohit Sharma each played a part in a clinical display of an all-round performance.

Eden Gardens had witnessed Steve Waugh and his team's downfall as a rampant turban wrapped off-spinner ran through the Aussie middle order. Harbhajan Singh became the first bowler to achieve a hat-trick for India in Test cricket as many as seven wickets fell in the last session, helping India take a lead.

That was 2001.

Fifteen years later, an Indian team led by Virat Kohli, who shares the same pugnacious character as Sourav Ganguly, the then India captain, achieved the same, albeit against New Zealand.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, India did not have the best of starts, reeling at 46 for the loss of three wickets.

It was Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77) who played a matured knock to take the team out of trouble, provided by Wriddhiman Saha's unbeaten 54 to take the team's score past the 300 mark.

In reply, the Kiwis were bundled out for 204.

Things could have been worse for the visitors, but only for Jeetan Patel.

The offspinner, who made a comeback into the side after a gap of two years, not only picked up two crucial wickets, but also starred in a run a ball innings of 47, striking nine boundaries in the process.

India did an encore in their second innings, losing four wickets for less than 50 runs.

Though skipper Virat Kohli played a crucial knock of 45, it was Rohit Sharma's innings which bailed them out of the mire.

Sharma (82) might have missed another Test century, but the Mumbai Indians skipper was involved in a 103-run partnership with local lad Wriddhiman Saha, who was eventually adjudged the Man-of-the-match.

The India tails wagged as Saha (58 not out) along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23) piled on the runs, helping their side impose a hefty target on the visitors to chase and win the match.

The Indian batsmen were eventually bowled out for 263 runs, setting the Kiwis a target of 376.

Starting the chase, Martin Guptill (24), who until now had difficulty in spending time at the crease and his more assured opening partner Tom Latham, played a steady hand to post a 55-run partnership.

Once Guptill was removed by Ashwin post lunch, Latham forged another 49-run partnership for the ensuing wicket with Henry Nicholls (24).

Nicholls' indecisive footwork paved his downfall as he was trapped in the crease after a Jedeja delivery took the edge of his bat.

Ross Taylor (4), the stand in New Zealand captain, walked in next, but was undone by an Ashwin delivery.

Taylor played for the turn to a ball which skidded on and hit him on the pads, allowing the umpire to raise his finger.

With wickets tumbling at the other end, Latham (74) held form from one and reached his half-century.

He starred in a small but significant partnership with Luke Ronchi but the tea break ended his vigil as the southpaw edged one to the wicket-keeper following the resumption of play in the final session.

The resistance was few from here on.

With reverse swing taking place, Shami and Kumar picked up wickets regularly to dent the visitors hopes of a survival.

Aided by some smart catches, Ashwin, Jadeja and Shami ended with figures of three wickets each, while Kumar picked up a solitary piece.

At the post match presentation, New Zealand captain Ross Taylor lamented the absence of Kane Williamson for the Test match.

"Very impressive the way the bowlers stuck it out under tough circumstances. Very hot and humid. We put this Indian side under pressure. India did well. Saha got crucial runs in both the innings and got them over the line," he said.

"To be honest, I expected the pitch to play different. It's a good cricket wicket. It's just been relaid and guess, with time, it will get better and better. Spinners were able to create some pressure with tight lines. Anytime you have a 112-run deficit, you are under pressure. We took early wickets but the stand between Rohit and Saha took it away and it was difficult to get back," Taylor added.

"Latham was outstanding today. Hopefully we can get back in Indore. We have nothing to lose. We will play fearless cricket. Need to see what the wicket will be like. Was good to see Williamson at the ground today but still looked a bit pale. Hopefully he can get a bit of energy back in the next few days. Knowing him, he will be back in the nets tomorrow. Doesn't help to have a world class player in your side not playing. Will be good to have our skipper back," he said.

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli was all praise for Wriddhiman Saha.

He said, "Lovely Test match. As Taylor said, this was a brilliant Test wicket apart from the variable bounce here and there. When the wicket settles down, it will be a pretty wanted venue in India. It was an all-round performance. Bowlers did well. Saha did well and Shami and Bhuvi contributing. Those extra runs were important."

"We expect fight from a side like New Zealand but it took character to bounce back both times. Saha is the best keeper in the country and he is doing a great job in Tests: is wonderful behind the stumps and can bat. He backs himself and can bat with the tail. Backs himself to play his shots. That hundred in the West Indies really helped his confidence and he has been a revelation for the side. In the 1st innings, we threw it away with loose shots. In the second, NZ bowlers were good and put us under pressure. Rohit showed good intent, played positive cricket and we all know about his love affair with Eden Gardens. I was expecting him to score at least once in these two innings. I think in the last session, when we wanted early wickets, the crowd helped us pick them. That made a massive difference to Shami and it put extra pressure on the new batsmen. So the extra intent to get the crowd going there," he added.

"To keep playing consistent cricket is our objective, and if we do that, with a long home season, we have a control of the No. 1 ranking. We have played really good cricket for the last one and a half years. We want to keep doing that and show character when needed," Kohli said.   

(Writing by Sudipto Maity)