Taylor howler adds to New Zealand's woes

An almost schoolboy-like error by New Zealand's most experienced batsman Ross Taylor increased the tourists' misery as India closed in on a massive victory in their 500th Test match.

Taylor ran himself out at the non-striker's end following a direct throw from the deep by Umesh Yadav because he had not grounded his bat when the ball hit the stumps even though it was well inside the crease.

Report, scorecard: India v New Zealand, first Test

Taylor, a 32-year-old veteran of 74 Tests, had till then survived anxious moments at the crease to make 17 and his dismissal only helped India tighten the screws on the befuddled tourists.

The hosts will begin the final day's play at the Green Park in Kanpur needing six more wickets to go 1-0 up in the three-match series after the Black Caps imploded on a dusty spin-friendly pitch.

Set an improbable world record chase of 434 after tea, New Zealand slipped to 2-3 and then were 4-56 before Luke Ronchi (38 off 58 balls) and Mitchell Santner (8 off 50 balls) carried them to 4-93 by stumps. 

None of the New Zealanders spoke out on Taylor's dismissal and former captain and team-mate Stephen Fleming could only say on television: "The nature of some of those wickets were disappointing."

But the silence could not hide the widespread belief that the tourists had ruined their good work over the first two days when they matched the home side with both bat and ball.

It was a day to celebrate for prolific Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who picked up all three scalps that fell to the bowlers to reach a personal landmark of 200 wickets in his 37th Test.

Ashwin, 30, was the the second fastest in history to reach the mark after New Zealand-born Australian spinner Clarrie Grimmett did it in 36 Tests way back in 1936.

Ashwin shared the new ball with Mohammad Shami and removed Martin Guptill, caught at silly point for zero, and Tom Latham, leg-before, in his second over.

He should have had another success - his 200th wicket - soon after but umpire Richard Kettleborough twice turned out close leg-before appeals against Taylor. 

Replays showed the umpire may have erred on both occasions, but India have themselves to blame for opposing the Decision Review System (DRS) which is not used for their bilateral series.

Ashwin finally achieved the milestone when he trapped skipper and star batsman Kane Williamson leg-before for 25 to warm applause from the packed stands, his team-mates and the dressing room.

"It's too early to talk about my achievements," said Ashwin, who claimed four wickets in the first innings. "I have a long way to go. It is very important to take one day at a time.

"Test cricket can set you back if you take it for granted. Be greedy in terms of what you want to achieve, but preparing for a Test, you have to take it one day at a time." 

Ashwin's spin partner Ravindra Jadeja, meanwhile, continued to make this Test his own.

Having scored 42 not out in the first innings and grabbed 5-73 when New Zealand batted, the left-hander smote an unbeaten 50 to lift India to 5-377 in the second knock before skipper Virat Kohli declared at tea.

Jadeja smashed three sixes and two fours to build the innings after Murali Vijay (76) and Cheteshwar Pujara (78) both hit their second half-centuries in the match and Rohit Sharma chipped in with 68 not out.

New Zealand's bowling coach Shane Jurgensen refused to concede defeat just yet.

"Like the last partnership towards the end today (between Ronchi and Santner), we've just got to keep fighting," Jurgensen said. "That's the way we play cricket. we have to fight to the end.

"There are still six wickets to go and if you get a good partnership going, you can score at a decent rate. More importantly you can bat for time.

"That's our goal, to fight for as long and as far as we can."