PHOTOS: India crush New Zealand to reclaim top ranking

Images from Day 4 of the second Test between India and New Zealand in Kolkata on Monday.

Virat Kohli

IMAGE: Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli celebrate the wicket of Mitchell Santner of New Zealand during Day 4 of the second Test match held at the Eden Gardens stadium, in Kolkata, on Monday. Photograph: BCCI.

India crushed New Zealand by 178 runs in the second Test on Monday to clinch the three-match series and reclaim top spot in the world rankings from Pakistan.

Chasing 376 for victory, the touring side were bundled out for 197 in fading light on the fourth day at Eden Gardens in Kolkata to give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

India will return to the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings irrespective of the result of the third and final Test in Indore which starts on Saturday.

Ravichandran Ashwin

IMAGE: Ravichandran Ashwin of India celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s captain Ross Taylor. Photographs: BCCI.

It was an all-round show from the Indian bowlers with spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowler Mohammed Shami picking up three wickets each.

New Zealand opener Tom Latham waged a lone battle, top- scoring for his side with a dogged 74.

Tom Latham

IMAGE: Tom Latham of New Zealand celebrates his half century. Photographs: BCCI.

Latham and Martin Guptill (24) survived nervous moments before lunch to give New Zealand a solid start with a series-best opening stand of 55.

Guptill, whose place in the side is under scrutiny after a string of poor scores, was on six when he was given not out following a confident appeal for lbw by Shami.

Ravindra Jadeja

IMAGE: Ravindra Jadeja of India celebrates the wicket of Henry Nicholls of New Zealand. Photographs: BCCI.

The right-hander was trapped leg before in the first over after lunch by off-spinner Ashwin, who also sent back stand-in skipper Ross Taylor (four) in similar fashion.

Latham concentrated hard to bring up his second half-century of the series and added 49 for the second wicket with Henry Nicholls (24), who replaced regular captain Kane Williamson in the side.

Tom Latham

IMAGE: Tom Latham of New Zealand bats during Day 4 of the second Test matchagainst Indiaat the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata on Monday. Photograph: BCCI.

Nicholls edged Jadeja to slip before Shami picked up two quick wickets by getting the ball to reverse swing and New Zealand lost seven wickets in the final session.

Local boy Shami returned to take the final wicket of Trent Boult much to the delight of the crowd.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

IMAGE: Mitchell Santner and Neil Wagner of New Zealand celebrates wicket of Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India during Day 4 of the second Test match at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata on Monday. Photograph: BCCI.

Earlier resuming on 227 for eight, India were all out for 263 in their second innings, setting New Zealand a difficult target on a much deteriorated track.

Wriddhiman Saha

IMAGE: Mohammad Shami and Wriddhaman Saha of India during Day 4 of the second Test match. Photograph: BCCI.

Wriddhiman Saha was not out on 58 for his second unbeaten fifty of the Test with the hosts looking to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and reclaim the top spot in the world Test rankings from Pakistan.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar