India on Monday reclaimed its No. 1 spot in the International Cricket Council Test rankings, after defeating New Zealand in the second game of the three-match Test series. The Indian squad beat the Black Caps by 178 runs on Day 4 of the second Test, which was held in Kolkata's Eden Gardens stadium, bringing the tally in the tournament to 2-0.
With the task of chasing a stiff target of 376, only Tom Latham (74) stood firm for the visiting team. While all the Indian bowlers were in fine form, it was pacer Mohammed Shami (3/46) who shone. The Kiwis were all out for 197 in the tail end of the day's play.
India did not add many to their overnight score of 239/7 and called it a day at 263. Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha (58 not out) scored his second half-century of the match to set the Kiwis a target of 376, a formidable one under the current circumstances. The ball was reversing, and India had two bowlers – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – who could run through an opposition.
Ashwin sent the top order back to the pavilion, getting the most important wicket of the well-set Latham. His wicket triggered a collapse in the New Zealand ranks as Shami came back into the attack to dismiss Mitchell Santner and BJ Watling in quick succession. Luke Ronchi offered some resistance, but he was sent back by Jadeja. Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent Jeetan Patel's stumps cartwheeling, while Virat Kohli's sharp reflex catch ended Matt Henry's resistance. Shami took the last wicket, for which India had to wait as the lights were dimming.
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