Rohit’s fall had Gill joining Jaiswal and the two did try to rebuild before the latter’s dismissal.
Earlier, spinners ruled the roost as Jadeja (5/65) and Washington (4/81) shared nine wickets between them to keep New Zealand to 235 after the visitors opted to bat.
Washington sparkled with a crucial two-wicket burst claiming key wickets of New Zealand captain Tom Latham (28) and the in-form Rachin Ravindra (5).
Even though Will Young (71) and Daryl Mitchell (82) played outstanding knocks, on a spin-friendly track, humidity and heat tested the Kiwis’ resolve while they pushed full tilt to counter India’s spin threat.
Young and Mitchell put New Zealand on track for a big first innings score but Jadeja played a decisive role in pegging them back and handing the advantage to India with his mastery over the pitch and the conditions, picking five wickets along the way.
R Ashwin, deployed first among the Indian spinners, remained wicket-less despite his variations but his bowling partners exploited the pitch perfectly, particularly left-arm Jadeja who bowled comparatively quicker and attacked the wickets.
New Zealand, who crumbled from 159 for three to 235 all out predominantly against Jadeja, did deserve credit for braving the conditions which had their highest scorer in the innings, Mitchell, really struggling in the middle.
The burly batting all-rounder consumed liquids frequently and kept dropping to his haunches and even lay flat on his back as he made a fighting 82 off 129 balls, laced with three fours and as many sixes.
Mitchell felt the heat more than anyone else also because he dealt a lot in singles and doubles until he brought up his maiden fifty of the tour.
Each of this three sixes came towards the end.
Like Mitchell, Young too looked set for a century but Jadeja’s brilliance ended his knock.
Getting one to turn away against Young’s front-foot defence, Jadeja had the ball kissing the shoulder of the bat and Rohit did the rest at first slip, bringing an end to a fine knock in which Young scored 71 off 138 balls with four fours and two sixes.
