India-New Zealand Test Series; Kiwis close in on victory
Sarfaraz Khan’s maiden century and Rishabh Pant’s cavalier 99 is unlikely to prevent New Zealand from earning their first-ever Test match victory on Indian soil in 36 years with only 107 runs to get on the final day of an intriguing start-stop series opener.
Tom Latham (0) and Devon Conway (0) were at crease when bad light and later rain forced early stumps on fourth evening.
The last time New Zealand won a Test match in India was way back in 1989 when Sir Richard Hadlee was still an active Test cricketer and got 10 wickets at the Wankhede to ensure a huge 136-run win.
Tom Latham’s team is on cusp of history despite a gallant fightback from India to score 462 in their second innings largely due to Sarfaraz continuing his happy knack of notching up ‘Daddy Hundreds’ from first-class to Test arena with a brilliant 150 off 195 balls and a stand of 177 with a half-fit Rishabh Pant, who missed his seventh Test hundred by a solitary run.
Once the second new ball was was taken, India lost seven wickets for 54 runs with tall gast bowlers Matt Henry and William O’Rourke getting extra bounce and movement off the Chinnaswamy surface. After all, India were 52 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand. But Latham taking the new ball on the first available opportunity turned the tide in New Zealand’s favour.
At that point, hopes were high of a miracle triumph similar to Kolkata 2001 with both Sarfaraz and Pant at the crease. The first one to perish was Sarfaraz, who spooned Tim Southee to Ajaz Patel at covers and Pant followed soon, dragging William O’Rourke (3/92) on to his stumps.
It was his seventh dismissal in 90s in Test cricket, and he will certainly rue it after doing all the hard work till then.
Henry (3/102), who took five wickets in the first innings, looked pedestrian till then regained his mojo and movement with the new ball, mopped India’s tail with the wickets of Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
But before the Blackcaps’ bowlers found some wind in their sails, Sarfaraz and Pant dictated the course of the match like puppet masters.
The sight of Pant walking out to bat in the first session in itself was soothing as he had missed the whole of third day because of the blow he copped on the knee while ‘keeping.
Pant understandably made a slightly gingerly start and was even involved in a mix-up with Sarfaraz, saved only by an erratic throw at stumps by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
Once swam past that period, Pant was unstoppable, clobbering left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel for a couple of six.
The left-hander soon brought up his fifty off just 55 balls with a thumping cover drive off Glenn Phillips before rain halted his march.
Despite the break, Pant started the middle session with confidence, biffing left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra for a couple of sixes over the covers.
There were a couple of jittery moments for him but DRS saved him on both the occasions. However, those blips did not affect his concentration and gradually began playing those shots exclusively crafted in the Pant manufacturing unit. However, all those heroics will remain just as a bright footnote unless Indian bowlers conjure some magic of their own on the fifth day.
Childhood dream fulfilled: Sarfaraz
Sarfaraz Khan delivered a stellar performance on Saturday, scoring his first Test century (150) and leading India’s remarkable recovery in the first Test against New Zealand. His century, in just his fourth Test appearance, marked a major milestone for the 26-year-old. “It felt really good to score a century for my country, fulfilling a childhood dream,” he said. “It won’t be easy for New Zealand. The pitch has its challenges; the ball is moving and cutting unpredictably, and there will be turn. If we can get breakthroughs early tomorrow, they might find themselves in a similar spot as we did,” he added.
