Whitewash! New Zealand beats India at Wankhede, scripts history with a 3-0 series win
New Zealand defeated India by 25 runs at the Wankhede Stadium to win the third test match between India and New Zealand. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was the hero for the Kiwis as he claimed 6 wickets to bundle out India for a mere 121 runs in their second innings. New Zealand, with this win became the first team to WHITEWASH India in India in a three match series. This is also Team India’s first home series whitewash since 2000, when South Africa defeated us 2-0 to clinch the series.
NEW ZEALAND BEAT INDIA WITHOUT DROPPING A SINGLE MATCH! ????
India's first ever whitewash at home in a three-plus Test series???? https://t.co/Vq9uHVa1n1 | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/1ATQixoRDy — ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 3, 2024
Day three started in India’s favor as Ravindra Jadeja took New Zealand’s last wicket to complete his second five-wicket haul. India managed to restrict the Kiwis to 174 with the help of Ashwin and Jadeja’s brilliant bowling efforts and was given a target of 147 to chase in the fourth inning.
It was always going to be a difficult chase given how much the ball was turning, but not impossible. India’s chase started in a very horrific manner as they lost captain Rohit Sharma very early and what followed was never seen before catastrophe by the Indian top order. Opener Yashaswi Jaiswal was dismissed LBW on 5 runs, whereas Shubhman Gill was clean bowled by Patel as the batter misjudged the spin. India’s mainstay Virat Kohli too continued his poor form as he departed scoring one run. The home team was 29/5 in no time as Rishabh Pant and Jadeja tried to steady the ship with their 42-run partnership. After Jadeja’s wicket, it was all about how Pant will bat along with India’s lower order.
TEAM INDIA'S BATTING COLLAPSE IN THIS TEST SERIES vs NEW ZEALAND. ???? pic.twitter.com/kWrHF2OZVJ — Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) November 3, 2024
The left-hander counter-attacked New Zealand to score his 14th half-century. All of India’s hopes were on Pant, but he failed to recreate his famous Gabba knock. He was controversially given out caught behind to Ajaz Patel on 64 runs. The DRS showed that his bat was very close to the bat as well as the pads when the UltraEdge detected some movement. He was given OUT by the third umpire. India’s lower order including W Sundar and R Ashwin could not do much against a masterful bowling by Ajaz Patel. India were wrapped in 121 in 29.1 overs in the fourth innings. With this win, New Zealand completed a historic 3-0 whitewash over Team India.
Left-arm spin exhibition-
Apart from the result, this test match will also be remembered for two left-arm spinners- Ajaz Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. The Wankhede test became the first match in test cricket's history in which left-arm bowlers took Five wicket hauls in all four innings.
For the first time in Test cricket history, a match has featured four 5-wicket hauls by left-arm bowlers.
Ravindra Jadeja (2)
Ajaz Patel (2) pic.twitter.com/QAtQLeFyG1 — CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 3, 2024
New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel continued his love affair with the Iconic Wankhede Stadium with his clinical performance. He now has taken 25 test wickets at the venue in just two matches, the most by a visiting bowler at this venue. He was also named man of the match for his match-winning figures of 11-260.
On the other hand, India’s premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also had a memorable Wankhede test as he took 10 wickets in this match. With this impressive performance, he surpassed Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma to become India’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in test cricket. Despite looking off-color during the first two test matches, Jaddu finished the series as a top wicket-taker with 16 wickets.
