Ashwin ended the day with figures of 3-68 off 16 overs

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Ravichandran Ashwin produced another magical spell with the ball to leave India just six wickets away from beating New Zealand and going 1-0 up in the three-match Test series.

Ashwin also made history on Sunday as he became the second-fastest bowler to take 200 Test wickets. The 30-year-old achieved the feat in his 37th Test, while Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett did it in his 36th Test.

Starting out the day on 159/1, India lost opening batsman Murali Vijay early on for 76, which came off 170 balls and included eight boundaries and a six.

India captain Virat Kohli failed to have an impact with the bat as he was dismissed for 18, and Cheteshwar Pujara followed soon after for 78, which came off 152 deliveries and included 10 boundaries.

Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma stabilised the innings with a 49-run partnership before Rahane was removed by Mitchell Santner for 40.

Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja kept the runs flowing with an unbeaten 100-run stand, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Kohli decided to declare with his side on 377/5, which set New Zealand at target of 434 to win.

Rohit raises his bat after bringing up his half-century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Rohit ended up making 68 off 93 balls, which included eight boundaries, while Jadeja scored 50 off 58 deliveries, which included two boundaries and three sixes.

Jadeja scored his second Test fifty

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Santner and Ish Sodhi picked up two wickets apiece, while Mark Craig chipped in with one.

Chasing 434 to win, New Zealand were in trouble from the get-go as opener Martin Guptill was sent packing by Ashwin for a duck.

Ashwin struck again four balls later as he trapped Guptill’s opening partner, Tom Latham, lbw for two runs.

Just when it seemed that New Zealand were rebuilding their innings, Ashwin dealt the tourists another blow as he dismissed captain Kane Williamson lbw for 25.

Things went from bad to worse when Ross Taylor was run out by Umesh Yadav for 17, but after that, New Zealand managed to keep their remaining wickets intact as Luke Ronchi and Santner amassed an unbeaten 37-run partnership before stumps was called.

Ronchi finished on 38 off 58 balls, which included four boundaries and a six, while Santner remained undefeated on eight.

Ashwin was the only bowler to take any wickets.

New Zealand ended day four on 93/4 and will continue batting on Monday at 09:15 local time or 03:45 GMT.