Bangalore, Sep 2 (IANS) India had New Zealand on the ropes as the visitors slid to 123 for four at tea on the third day of the second Test here Sunday, with an overall lead of 135 runs.
India, who earlier in the day were all out for 353 with Virat Kohli (103) completing his second century in 10 Tests and after seamer Tim Southee took a career-best seven for 64, hit back to grab the initiative in the post-lunch session when new ball bowler Umesh Yadav took two wickets in four balls.
Yadav, bowling with fire, castled opener Martin Guptill (7) who played all over a full-toss in the first over after lunch and then had the aggressive Brendon McCullum (23) caught behind in the next over to leave the Kiwis tottering on 31 for two.
Later, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin foxed Kane Williamson (13) with a wrong ‘un to have the Kiwi caught in the slips by Virender Sehwag and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha delivered a big blow by trapping skipper Ross Taylor (35) plumb in front to put India on top.
Earlier, Southee hogged the spotlight with a 15-ball burst that took out Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (62), Zaheer Khan (7) and Ojha (0) before Ashwin (32 not out) and Yadav (4) put on 33 runs for the last wicket to cut the deficit to just 12 runs.
