NEW ZEALAND’s Daryl Mitchell and Will Young made half-centuries in energy-sapping conditions but the tourists were restricted to 235 by Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul before India slumped to 86-4 on the first day of the third test in Mumbai on Friday (1).

Shubman Gill was batting on 31 while Rishabh Pant was not out on one at stumps after India had come back into the game with Jadeja claiming 5-65 and Washington Sundar bagging 4-81.

Rohit Sharma was unable to make the most of being dropped early on and the out-of-form India skipper fell for 18, before Ajaz Patel bowled Yashasvi Jaiswal for 30 and trapped Mohammed Siraj lbw for a duck with the next ball.

Virat Kohli then ran himself out for four while attempting a needless single to hand the advantage back to New Zealand in the final 15 minutes.

Mitchell top-scored for the Black Caps with 82 and Young made 71 as the tourists endured oppressive heat and humidity at the Wankhede Stadium to lay a decent foundation in their quest to win the finale and sweep the series.

Young notched his half-century by hitting Washington out of the ground after lunch and looked well set for a maiden ton only to fall against the run of play, edging Jadeja to slip.

After ending the 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket, Jadeja claimed another victim in the same over by castling Tom Blundell for a three-ball duck, but Mitchell steadied the ship with a gutsy knock despite cramps.

Glenn Phillips fell for 17 before tea as Jadeja bowled him out with a straighter ball and the spinner got rid of Ish Sodhi and Matt Henry immediately after the break for his 14th five-wicket haul in tests Read More…….