India reclaim top spot in Test ranking with 178-run win over Kiwis

Kolkata [India], Oct.3 (ANI): India reclaimed the top spot in the Test rankings after defeating New Zealand by massive 178 runs in the second match at Eden Gardens. With the win, India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Set a winning target of 376, New Zealand struggled against a persistent Indian bowling attack with Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin bagging three wickets apiece on a tricky pitch in the second innings. Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who wreaked havoc on the tourists with his disciplined performance in the first innings with a five-wicket haul, claimed one wicket in the second innings. Opener Tom Latham (74) was the only batsmen who provided some resistance and looked technically sound against a relentless attack from the hosts. Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha was adjudged the Man of the Match for his unbeaten knocks of 54 and 58 in the first and second innings, respectively. Rohit Sharma played an 82-run knock to help India increase their lead, while Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane scored 87 and 77 respectively in the first innings. India's top spot is guaranteed irrespective of how the third and final Test in Indore, which will be played from 8-12 October, pans out. Virat Kohli's side had entered the series against New Zealand trailing Pakistan by one point and needed to win the series to reclaim the number-one ranking for the fourth time since the current rankings system was introduced in 2003. (ANI)