27 Aug 2012

Ashwin spins India to massive victory but NZ rue no DRS

8:30 am on 27 August 2012

India has crushed New Zealand by an innings and 115 runs within four days in the opening test, but the Black Caps were left ruing the hosts' obstinance over using the Decision Review System.

Resuming on 41 for one at Hyderabad, and following on still 238 runs short of India's first innings total, Brendon McCullum was called out lbw to Ohja for 42 after lunch - when replays showed it was highly likely McCullum had got bat on the ball before it hit his pad.

McCullum received an official reprimand after the match, pleading guilty to breaching the ICC code of conduct by showing dissent at the decision.

Martin Guptill's lbw on Saturday was also highly debatable but with no DRS available, an all-too familiar collapse then began with the last nine wickets falling for 64 runs as the visitors were bundled out for 164 after tea in their second innings, after Kane Williamson was out for a top New Zealand score of 52.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's six for 54, his second six-wicket haul in the match and a career-best 12 wickets and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha's three for 48 gave India a 1-0 lead in the two-test series.

The 25-year-old Ashwin, who took six for 31 in New Zealand's first innings, grabbed 12 wickets for 85 runs in the match, the best by an Indian bowler against New Zealand in a test.

The second and final test of the series will be played in Bangalore from Friday.