Finance
New Zealand needs 107 runs to win the first Test against India at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, after fast bowlers William O’Rourke and Matt Henry cleaned out the hosts for 462 in their second innings on day four on Saturday.
At one stage, India were 408/3 and were poised to set a lofty goal for New Zealand, courtesy to a sensational counter-attacking 177-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant. But once New Zealand took the second new ball, they took the next seven wickets for 54 runs, reducing India to 462 all out in 99.3 overs.
With the pitch having cracks and offering help to pacers, India will need a special effort from their bowlers to conjure up an unlikely win. Sarfaraz slammed a fantastic maiden ton laced with strokes mostly on square through the off-side, while Pant, despite not being at his 100% best around the right knee, was exhilarating in his 99, his seventh Test score in the 90s.
Resuming at 70, Sarfaraz continued to be audacious in his approach and peppered the square boundary on the off-side with several cheeky back foot cuts and slices. In the morning, with dark clouds hanging around, Sarfaraz welcomed O’Rourke with two cuts on the off-side, followed by taking another four and dispatching Henry for two more boundaries.
A big mix-up between the two could have resulted in Pant being run out halfway down the pitch if an out-of-position Tom Blundell hadn’t botched the throw at the stumps. Sarfaraz reached his hundred in a dominant manner, with a backfoot punch off Southee clearing the in-field for four. The right-handed batter ran while holding the bat high and his hands aloft.
He then removed his helmet, yelled, and swung the bat magnificently, before receiving a bear hug from Pant, as the stadium rose to its feet to praise a fantastic knock under pressure. While Sarfaraz proceeded to paddle and dab his way toward further boundaries, a patient Pant began to cut loose by smashing Southee for six and four respectively.
He then showed good footwork in slamming Ajaz Patel for two mighty sixes, before getting to overturn a lbw decision as replays showed a big inside edge. It was followed by New Zealand burning a review on the very next ball as Pant got bat on the skiddy delivery.
Pant then blasted two more boundaries from Patel and Glenn Phillips to reach his fifty in just 55 balls, putting to rest any doubts about his fitness after hobbling off the field after being hurt on the right knee while wicketkeeping on the second day, before rain forced an early lunch.
Following a rain delay, Pant started by smacking, flat-batting, and reverse-sweeping to get his first run of boundaries. After Sarfaraz ramped O’Rourke for four, Pant cut through the space and went inside-out to score another boundary. Sarfaraz drilled Phillips for a boundary before scoring a single, bringing him to 150 for the first time in Tests.
But in the very next over, Sarfaraz went for the lofted cover drive, but extra bounce from Southee meant the ball lobbed to cover, bringing an end to his wonderful knock, which was laced with 18 fours and three sixes. Pant astonished everyone when he slog-swept Southee for a staggering 107-m six going on the roof of square leg boundary.
There was anticipation and nervousness in the crowd eager to see Pant get his hundred, but his attempt to punch off O’Rourke didn’t account for the extra bounce and rattled the leg-stump, as he got out for 99, laced with nine fours and five sixes.
O’Rourke again struck at the stroke of tea when Rahul poked at a short-of-length delivery and took edge behind. Post tea, O’Rourke was excellent again when Ravindra Jadeja pulled straight to mid-wicket. Henry then came in to trap Ravichandran Ashwin lbw and had Jasprit Bumrah nicking behind before wrapping up India’s innings by having Mohammed Siraj hit straight to mid-on.
O’Rourke struck again when Rahul poked at a short-length delivery and edged behind. After tea, O’Rourke was outstanding again as Ravindra Jadeja pulled direct to mid-wicket. Henry then came in to catch Ravichandran Ashwin lbw and Jasprit Bumrah caught behind, before Mohammed Siraj smashed straight to mid-on to end India’s innings.
Brief scores: India 46 and 462 all out in 99.3 overs (Sarfaraz Khan 150, Rishabh Pant 99; William O’Rourke 3-92, Matt Henry 3-102) lead New Zealand 402 by 106 runs
Source:IANS
