Awesome Ash-wins it for India

The cacophony was dying down. A few spectators fidgeted in the stands, frustrated despite the pleasant breeze blowing across the ground. Khurram Habib reports.. Victorious Team India | Hyderabad highs

The cacophony was dying down. A few spectators fidgeted in the stands, frustrated despite the pleasant breeze blowing across the ground. India’s fruitless one-hour effort prior to lunch — the game had a delayed start yet again — had led to frustration.

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Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson were dead-batting the deliveries and ensuring an unusually safe passage of play for the Kiwis on the fourth day. There were some good shots in between and some gentle dabs for runs. But for the crowd of 12,000, which later swelled to 20,000, there was very little action of note.

Immediately after lunch, the screen flashed that India had won the U-19 World Cup. The crowd roared. As if charged up, the Indians started to snare wickets. Five came between lunch and tea and that almost sealed the affair.

It was a frustrating beginning, though. MS Dhoni looked to polish off the Kiwis with his two spinners. Nothing materialised and Pragyan Ojha (with 11) and R Ashwin’s (7) first few overs didn’t yield returns.

R Ashwin bowls during the fourth day of the first Test match against New Zealand in Hyderabad. HT/Sunil Saxena