HYDERABAD (TIP): India wrapped up a comfortable victory over New Zealand inside four days by bowling the visitors out for 164 to win by an innings and 115 runs in Hyderabad. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up six for 54 in the second innings to add to his six victims in the first as the home side took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The Black Caps failed to advance past 170 in either innings, with India’s opening effort of 438 out of New Zealand’s reach. Following on after they were skittled out for 159, the tourists resumed on Sunday on 41 for one, after heavy rain had curtailed play on Saturday night, with the weather again intervening today and forcing a later start. Opener Brendon McCullum returned to the wicket on 16 alongside Kane Williamson who was on three and it was the former who brought up his team’s 50 with a single off Pragyan Ojha.

Both players showed caution, avoiding any impulse to take the attack to the hosts, and at lunch McCullum was unbeaten on 39 off 124 deliveries while Williamson was 31 not out off 96 balls. However, the partnership was brought to an end shortly after the resumption when a furious McCullum was removed by Umesh Yadav. The New Zealander edged a delivery onto his pads and, after a huge appeal, umpire Steve Davis raised his finger with McCullum clearly displeased.

It reduced the visitors to 98 for two after McCullum had reached 42 off 130 deliveries, including three boundaries, in a stand worth 72.New Zealand’s plight worsened shortly after when McCullum’s replacement, Ross Taylor, became Ashwin’s seventh victim of the match, the New Zealander unwisely choosing to leave a delivery.Pragyan Ojha produced a delivery that few could play, drifting in towards the stumps and then spinning away with bounce which Williamson (52) poked at – a thick edge carrying it through to Virender Sehwag at first slip. Four runs later and things went from bad to worse when Ashwin removed Daniel Flynn leg before for 11 and, when Franklin also fell to Ashwin with the total on 145 for six, the Black Caps looked to be merely delaying the inevitable. They were seven down in just the second over after tea as Ojha got one to turn away from Doug Bracewell, the right-hander edging to a diving Virat Kohli.