India eye Test win as Ashwin strikes

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed three wickets in the afternoon session to boost India's chances of winning the opening Test against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Sunday. He removed skipper Ross Taylor (seven), Daniel Flynn (11) and James Franklin (five) as New Zealand, following on after conceding a 279-run lead, struggled to reach 146-6 in their second innings at tea on the penultimate day. Ashwin, who bagged 6-31 in the first innings, has so far taken three wickets for 50 runs off 23 overs in the second innings. Kruger van Wyk was unbeaten on two at the break with Doug Bracewell (one) as New Zealand added 105 runs to their overnight total of 41-1 after play started two hours late because of rain. They now trail by 133 runs. India, who went wicketless in the morning, struck twice in the opening six overs of the second session through paceman Umesh Yadav and Ashwin as the tourists slipped from 98-1 to 105-3. Opener Brendon McCullum (42) was unlucky to be given out lbw as TV replays suggested he had inside-edged a Yadav delivery on to his pads, while Taylor was bowled by Ashwin offering no stroke. McCullum, an attacking batsman, curbed his shot during his 130-ball knock which contained just three fours. He was involved in a defiant 72-run stand for the second wicket with Williamson. The 22-year-old Williamson, who cracked a hundred on his Test debut against India in 2010, fell after completing his fifth half-century in 15 Tests, caught by Virender Sehwag in the slips off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. He hit four boundaries in his 163-ball knock. The morning session belonged to McCullum and Williamson who applied themselves well to deny India success, helping their team score 51 in 25 overs. India started the day with Ojha and Ashwin, who had shared nine wickets in the first innings, but the duo failed to trouble McCullum and Williamson.