Jayant Yadav, Ashwin mop up New Zealand tail as India seal series victory

India sealed the victory in comfortable fashion on the fourth morning of the second Test in Mumbai as the hosts dismissed New Zealand for 167 to win by 372 runs – their biggest margin of victory in Test cricket in terms of runs. Jayant Yadav picked up four wickets in quick succession in the opening hour on day four to finish with career-best figures of 4 for 49, while Ravichandran Ashwin registered his second four-wicket haul of the match to help India secure the series win 1-0. With this victory, India also reclaimed their spot as the world’s number one Test side in the ICC rankings, jumping above New Zealand, who fall to second place.

It was all over in a hurry in the opening session of Day 4, as Jayant Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin spun a web around the Blackcaps lower-order to pick up the remaining five wickets in just 11.3 overs. Both off-spinners received added purchase from the Wankhede track due to the morning moisture, and after countless plays and misses in the opening seven overs, Jayant Yadav was the first to strike with the wicket of Rachin Ravindra.

Ravindra couldn’t recreate his 4th innings heroics from Kanpur, edging a delivery to Cheteshwar Pujara at second slip. The all-rounder’s dismissal opened the floodgates for India, with the final four wickets falling in the space of only 20 deliveries. Yadav struck a double blow in his next over to remove both pacers Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee. Jamieson received one that spun sharply from outside off and trapped him on his pads while Tim Southee completely missed the ball after running down the pitch to fall for a two-ball duck. Will Sommerville didn’t last too long either, giving Jayant Yadav his fourth wicket with an inside edge that flew to Mayank Agarwal at short leg.

Ravichandran Ashwin then sealed the victory with the final wicket of Henry Nicholls on 44. The left-hander showed plenty of application in his 111-ball stay at the crease but misjudged the flight and turn of the delivery while dancing down the track, allowing Wriddhiman Saha to complete the easiest stumping of his career. Ashwin finished with impressive figures of 8 for 42 in the match, and with the wicket of Nicholls, the all-rounder became only the second Indian after Anil Kumble to pick up 300 scalps at home in Test cricket.

Ashwin was also named the man of the series for the 9^th time in his career against New Zealand, putting him just two behind Muttiah Muralitharan, who tops the all-time list.