KANPUR, India: Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin helped India gain control of the third Test against New Zealand before the home batsmen stretched the second innings lead to 215 on the third day in Kanpur on Saturday.
The hosts, who are playing their 500th Test match, were 159 for one at stumps with opener Murali Vijay on 64 and Cheteshwar Pujara on 50 going strong.
The batting duo put together an unbeaten 107-run stand for the second wicket to take the attack to the opposition bowlers.
But it was Jadeja and Aswhin, sharing nine wickets between them, who spun it around for India after bowling out New Zealand for 262 in their first innings and securing a vital 56-run lead.
The Indian batsmen seized the advantage with Vijay putting on a 52-run opening stand with Lokesh Rahul, who finally fell to New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi for 38.
Vijay, who registered his 13th half-century, struck seven fours and a six to entertain the raucous home crowd at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.
