Could this be the final day of this Test match? One would hope not but the possibilities are big. The pitch is misbehaving, India are on a roll and ahead by 339 with two wickets in hand and New Zealand's batting, barring Luke Ronchi, hasn't clearly inspired confidence in the series so far. Having said that, there is the good ol' cricketing cliche of the glorious uncertainty of sport to fall back on for more evenly-matched contest.
India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
Series: New Zealand tour of India, 2016 Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Date & Time: Sep 30-Oct 04, 09:30 AM LOCAL
Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed his third wicket early in the third session, triggering NZ's collapse. © Cricbuzz
Having said this, despite their unenviable position in the game, what New Zealand have offered in dollops so far is grit and fight. They could have been easily blown away on Day 3 and today's play could have been rendered merely academic but they have ploughed on. Jeetan Patel with the bat ate into India's lead before Matt Henry and Trent Boult scythed through India's top-order. If not for the two stand between Kohli and Rohit and then Rohit and Saha, we could be looking at a different game altogher.
And with that hope of a fightback, we set the ball rolling for Day 4. Again, this is Kaushik Rangarajan, who will take you through the day's proceedings on this blog. I will be joined by Prakash Govindasreenivasan midway through the first session. Let's Test cricket!
As always, we'll take a look at what's being written about the game in the hours since the last ball of the day 3's play. Ganesh Chandrasekaran reflects on that Rohit 82 and how in years from now, that innings might as well end up being an important pitchfork in his career. Read all about it
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Tom Latham notched a fine half-century as New Zealand made a solid start to their chase of 376 on Day 3 of the second Test in Kolkata. Despite Latham's defiance at one end, India managed to prize out three wickets during the second session on a pitch that has been a troublesome one for batsmen throughout the Test.
Having bowled out India for 263 in the second innings, New Zealand faced a tall order having to chase down a record total. Martin Guptill and Latham had given the visitors some hope with a half-century stand in the first session, but India came back strongly to wrest control.
It only took Ashwin five balls into the second session to give India their much-needed breakthrough as he had Guptill out LBW for his highest score of the series, 24.
Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham subdued the 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. 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.
New Zealand had slumped to 115/3. Three could have very well become four moments before Tea, but luck favoured the visitors. Luke Rochi's poke off Jadjea caught the edge, but landed inches short of Rahane's left hand, while Latham survived after his leading edge fell agonisingly short of the onrushing Virat Kohli.
New Zealand went in to Tea at 135/3, needing 241 more to win. Tom Latham, batting on 74, will hold most of New Zealand's hopes going into the final session on Day 3.
Mohammed Shami is in the middle of an outstanding spell. He's working up serious pace and is getting the ball to reverse. After beating the bat on multiple occasions, he gets a much-deserved breakthrough as he pings Santner on the pads from around the wicket. Plumb as they come. Santner doesn't look to happy. He has to go. Half the side in the hut now!
Big wicket straight after Tea for India. Ashwing gives this air outside off-stump and lures Latham into an expansive drive. The outside edge is taken and Saha completes a sharp catch. Latham can't add to his Tea score. Massive wicket for India.
Mohammed Shami is in the middle of an outstanding spell. He's working up serious pace and is getting the ball to reverse. After beating the bat on multiple occasions, he gets a much-deserved breakthrough as he pings Santner on the pads from around the wicket. Plumb as they come. Santner doesn't look to happy. He has to go. Half the side in the hut now!
Wow... It's just gotten better. Shami bowls BJ Watling with another pacy delivery. Watling plays inside the line and is cleaned up. Six down now. This is a fabulous spell from Shami!
Big wicket straight after Tea for India. Ashwing gives this air outside off-stump and lures Latham into an expansive drive. The outside edge is taken and Saha completes a sharp catch. Latham can't add to his Tea score. Massive wicket for India.
They all fall... down. With the fall of Luke Ronchi's wicket, all the batsmen are back in the pavilion. Matt Henry and Jeetan Patel are at the crease. They are gritty with the bat, but well, India has entered the tail. Can the tourists delay the inevitable and drag the fight to Day 5? At the moment, it seems unlikely.
After Matt Henry, it is Neil Wagner who is frustrating the Indian bowlers in the final few minutes of play on the penultimate day. Victory is in sight, but the New Zealand lower order is delaying the inevitable. The ball is swinging, reverse swinging and turning. But wickets are not coming their way.
Trent Boult got an edge to an ugly pull shot which went high in air, before Murali Vijay positioned himself well to come under it and take it. With the fall of New Zealand's 10th wicket, their late resistance came to an end and they handed over the series to India. New Zealand were bundled out for 197 runs and India won the Eden Gardens Test by 178 runs.
The hosts rode to their second consecutive win in the series at the back of an all-round effort. Three wickets each for Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the second innings at the back of Rohit Sharma's 82, Virat Kohli's 45. There was also a five-wicket haul from Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the first innings, apart from half centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha.
With this win at the Eden Gardens, India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, and have returned to the No 1 position in the ICC Test Rankings
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