The Wankhede Stadium pitch began to deteriorate on the second day of the third Test between India and New Zealand. The Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja exploited the conditions effectively, making life difficult for the New Zealand batters on Day 2.
India need to create history to beat New Zealand and prevent series sweep
Ashwin, in particular, was impressive, picking up three wickets, including two with his carrom ball. He dismissed dangerous players like Will Young (51) and Glenn Phillips (26). Despite the dominance of the Indian spinners, New Zealand managed to build a substantial lead of 143 runs despite finishing the Day 2 at a precarious 171/9. Now India need to script a history if they need to win the third Test and avoid a series sweep.
Let's know what is the highest successful chase ever achieved at the Wankhede Stadium:
The highest successful fourth-innings chase at the Wankhede Stadium was achieved by South Africa in 2000. Led by Hansie Cronje, South Africa successfully chased down a target of 163 runs against India. This remains the only successful triple-digit chase at the venue. The second-highest successful chase at the Wankhede Stadium was by England in 1980, when they chased down a target of 96 runs against India.
Highest run chases at Wankhede Stadium
South Africa 164/6 vs India (2000)
England 98/0 vs India (1980)
England 58/0 vs India (2012)
India 51/2 vs England (1984)
Australia 47/0 vs India (2001)
On Day 2 of the third Test in Mumbai, India took control of the match thanks to a strong partnership between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, followed by dominant bowling performances from the Indian spinners.
Gill's patient 90 runs off 146 balls and Pant's explosive 60 runs off 59 balls helped India take a 28-run lead. However, Ajaz Patel once again showcased his skill with the ball, taking crucial wickets for New Zealand. At the end of the day's play on November 2nd, New Zealand were 171/9, trailing India by 143 runs.
After a shaky start on Day 1, India bounced back strongly on Day 2. A crucial partnership between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant laid the foundation for India's dominance. The Indian spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Washington Sundar then took control of the match, dismantling the New Zealand batting lineup. Jadeja and Ashwin were particularly impressive, picking up four and three wickets, respectively. With a significant lead, India will aim to bowl out New Zealand quickly on Day 3 and chase down the target to secure a consolation win in the series.
