Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel starred with the ball for India on Day 3 of the opening Test against New Zealand at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
The Kiwi opening duo of Tom Latham and Will Young were going strong in the first innings, having shared a partnership of 151 runs. However, Akshar along with fellow spinner R Ashwin brought the hosts back in the game, taking eight scalps between them.
While Akshar picked up a five-wicket haul (5-62), Ashwin returned with the figures of 3 for 82 as India bundled out the visitors for 296 to take a handy lead of 49 runs.
Tom Latham (95), Ross Taylor (11), Henry Nicholls (2), Tom Blundell (13), and Tim Southee (5) were the victims of Akshar Patel. Besides, Umesh Yadav (1-5) and Ravindra Jadeja (1-57) too claimed wicket apiece.
Team India needed to bat only five overs before the stumps on Day 3 and they lost one wicket in it. Kyle Jamieson knocked over Shubman Gill for 1 while Mayank Agarwal (4*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (9*) stayed unbeaten as the home side ended the day on 14/1, extending their lead to 63 runs.
For his magnificent bowling performance, Akshar Patel received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on Twitter.
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