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India finished day three of the first Test against New Zealand in a commanding position after Axar Patel’s five-for wrapped up the Kiwi first innings at 296 Saturday in reply to the hosts’ 345.
At the close India were 14-1, leading the Black Caps by 63 runs in their second innings with opener Shubman Gill bowled by Kyle Jamieson for one before bad light stopped play after five overs.
Mayank Agarwal on four and Cheteshwar Pujara on nine will start the innings Sunday as the hosts look to put the first of two Tests out of reach on an increasingly tricky wicket.
Earlier Patel and the other Indian spinners -- Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja -- clawed India back in the last two sessions on Saturday after a strong New Zealand start.
The visitors were 249-6 at tea and the three spinners finished the Kiwi innings within 47 runs after the break.
Left-arm spinner Patel bowled Southee for five to complete his five-for.
Patel said he had been using the crease well on the pitch which is “slowing up even further”.
“Today (it) was even slower than the first two days, though it was turning more. It is difficult, but you can survive here with caution,” he said after play.
Ashwin took the last two wickets of the innings to finish his spell giving away 82 runs for three scalps.
Ashwin and Patel denied centuries to the Kiwi openers, Tom Latham and Will Young. Latham was stumped by substitute wicketkeeper K.S. Bharat off Patel’s bowling for a grinding 95 off 282 balls.
Jadeja bowled 33 overs for 57 runs and Patel, India’s most effective spinner, bowled 34 overs for 62 runs and five wickets.
