India produced an all-round bowling display on the fourth day of the Eden Gardens Test to

complete a 178-run win over New Zealand and thereby took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the
three-match Test series. Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took
three wickets apiece as the visitors folded for 197 in their chase of a gargantuan target of 376. By
virtue of the win, India also pipped sub-continent rivals Pakistan to the summit of the Test
rankings.
New Zealand were faced with an uphill battle ever since they let the initiative slip after a
dominant opening day and again after a spirited comeback on the third day. They didn't help
matters with an insipid bowling effort on the third morning which allowed the Indian tail,
marshalled by the gutsy Wriddhiman Saha (58*) to add a further 37 runs, putting the game
beyond the visitors. Tom Latham offered stiff resistance but once India found their opening, they
were always ahead of the eight ball. It ended under fading lights in the post-Tea session but the
team's luminescent efforts shone brightly enough to vindicate their top standing in the format.
Test matches in the sub-continent are all about pressure sustenance. It's a doctrine that Ross
Taylor and Co. aren't unaware of, having preached the virtue for a good part of the build up to
the Kolkata Test. However, putting it to practice remains just as far-fetched. New Zealand's
cricket is usually synonymous with grit, steel and repeatedly punching above the weight. All of it
was on display at different stages of the fourth day and yet they finished a distant second in the
contest. Beating India in these conditions perhaps also requires a touch of genius.
When Martin Guptill and Tom Latham added 55 for the opening wicket in 16 overs of the first
session, some sensed that with a little bit of luck, New Zealand could dream if they could sustain
their level for two more sessions, setting the stage for a grand finale. It was, afterall, New
Zealand's highest opening partnership in Asia involving Guptill. Rohit Sharma had demonstrated,
only a couple of sessions ago, that every new innings in the Test offers an opportunity for
breaking perceptions. Perhaps, this was Guptill's turn.
All that came crashing within five deliveries of the post-lunch session. Ravichandran Ashwin
pushed through a couple of deliveries then unleashed a ripping off-break to beat the batsman's
forward defence. LBW. Gone. India had the opening they so dearly sought and it brought Henry
Nicholls to the middle. Two left-handers against Ashwin? That's clearly a mismatch. But no, the
much-touted New Zealand resistance had to be breached first.
Nicholls and Latham subdued the anticipated Indian charge with another defiant stand, as New
Zealand went past the 100-run mark. Latham, in particular, looked in good touch, using a long
forward stride to counter the spinners. He'd been caught on the crease on both occasions in
Kanpur. He was learning his lessons. But, just when it looked like the pair would take New
Zealand safely through till Tea, India's spinners started weaving webs around the batsmen.

Latham survived a couple of close calls against Jadeja, but the bowler was rewarded for his toil
when Nicholls edged a shot to Ajinkya Rahane at slip. Ashwin added one more wicket to his tally
as he had Ross Taylor out LBW with a superb drifter that held its line after pitching on off. It had
happened again. New Zealand had fought but not long enough to turn the smile on Kohli's face
upside down. The Indian captain had instead turned cheerleader to rile the 12000-strong to get
behind the home team. They didn't need a second invitation. It got real now.
Latham didn't last long after Tea. Ashwin sucked him into a loose drive with a loopy off-break
and had him caught behind. It was around this time, the 60-over mark, that Shami was
acquainted with a familiar ally - the reverse swing. Refreshed during interval and backed by a
vociferous home crowd, the Bengal pacer charged in with purpose and pushed the batsmen deep
into their crease. It was only a matter of time before Mitchell Santner missed a pacy full delivery
and was caught in front of the stumps. A couple of overs later, BJ Watling played inside the line
and lost his off-stump. It was unravelling fast now, as it usually does at this venue in the final
session.
Ravindra Jadeja added two more to his tally with his relentless stump-to-stump line and
Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke his innings duck with the dismissal of Jeetan Patel as New Zealand
hurtled towards defeat. Fittingly, Shami returned for final burst, this time with the new ball, to
wrap things up as India marched out of the field with the top-ranking and their home reputation
firmly in their grasp.
Brief Scores: India 316 & 263 (Rohit Sharma 82, Wriddhiman Saha 58*; Trent Boult 3-38, Matt
Henry 3-59) beat New Zealand 204 & 197 (Tom Latham 74, Luke Ronchi 32; Mohammed
Shami 3-46, Ravindra Jadeja 3-41, R Ashwin 3-82) by 178 runs