Ashwin fires India to innings win

Ravichandran Ashwin exposed New Zealand's batting limitations against spin with a second successive six-wicket haul as India won the opening Test by an innings and 115 runs on Sunday.

The off-spinner (6-54) was superbly supported by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (3-48) as New Zealand, following on after conceding a 279-run lead, collapsed to 164 in their second innings on the penultimate day in Hyderabad.

Man-of-the-match Ashwin, who grabbed a career-best 6-31 in the first innings, finished with 12-85, his best match-haul in seven Tests.

New Zealand were comfortably placed at 98-1 at one stage before losing their last nine wickets for just 66 runs in a dramatic collapse on a spinner-friendly track.

There was no hint of collapse in the morning session as Kane Williamson (52) and opener Brendon McCullum (42) denied India success with their determined batting.

The tourists' slide began in the afternoon session with the dismissal of McCullum, trapped leg-before by Ojha after adding 72 for the second wicket with Williamson.

India struck twice in the opening six overs of the second session through paceman Umesh Yadav and Ashwin.

McCullum was unlucky to be given out lbw as TV replays suggested he had inside-edged a Yadav delivery on to his pads, while skipper Ross Taylor (seven) was bowled by Ashwin offering no stroke.

Ashwin also removed Daniel Flynn (11) and James Franklin (five) in the afternoon before taking three more wickets in the last session to complete an easy Indian win.

New Zealand added 123 runs to their overnight total of 41-1 after play started two hours late because of rain. McCullum, an attacking batsman, curbed his shots during his 130-ball knock which contained just three fours.

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 Ojha.

He hit four boundaries in his 163-ball knock.

HYDERABAD, Aug 26, 2012