Washington Sundar slowed down New Zealand's progress by taking two crucial wickets as visitors reached 92/3 at lunch on the opening day of the third Test against India on Friday. Washington (2/26) took his total tally of wickets for the series to 13 as he mounted pressure on the Kiwi batters after pacer Akash Deep (1/22) got the first India wicket. Wicket of the NZ captain Tom Latham at 28 and Ravindra at 5 kept India in control in the second half of the session in which New Zealand managed a little consolidation on that tricky wicket that yielded favors to all bowlers. He is coming after a good haul of 11 wickets in the second Test match at Pune, Washington quite quickly established his rhythm against the Kiwi batters and challenged their defense with his spin. Here, Latham came to defend as Washington drew him out for a defensive action, but the ball turned and drifted to hit off-stump after beating the outside edge of the bat. Ravindra also received the same treatment as Washington did in the fifth over, when once more the ball drifted in and turned past the outside edge before knocking over the off-stump. Watch the video here: Washington with Double-Blow!pic.twitter.com/zkFBK5WCEI — CricketGully (@thecricketgully) November 1, 2024 Also Read | Did Rohit Inspire Kohli’s RCB Captaincy Return for IPL 2025? Kaif Explains Early Struggles for Kiwi Batters The Indian pacers were not in a great shape initially when they hardly got any movement off the surface. The third over, however brought Mohammed Siraj close to getting Devon Conway (4) leg before wicket but the inside edge thumped off in time. Akash angling another into Conway beat his bat and got him leg before. New Zealand reviewed it but it went in vain as it was a clear plumb. While Latham consolidated, using the sweep shot to good effect, Young showed his skills and solid defense as a dependable No. 3 batter for New Zealand. He attacked any width offered, hitting boundaries, and confidently stepped down the track against Ravichandran Ashwin to clear the ropes over midwicket.