Finance
Rain returned on day four of India’s first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, forcing an early lunch break. At the time of the break, India had reached 344/3 in 71 overs, behind New Zealand by only 12 runs, due to Sarfaraz Khan’s maiden Test ton and Rishabh Pant’s 12th fifty in the format.
Resuming from 70, Sarfaraz maintained his bold approach, peppering the square boundary on the off-side with loads of sneaky backfoot cuts and slices to finish unbeaten at 125.
He has been well-supported by Pant, who has unleashed his aggressive side after a brief period of patience, with the wicketkeeper-batter currently on 53 not out. The unbroken 113-run partnership between Sarfaraz and Pant, who played together for India U19 team in the 2016 U19 World Cup, means India still have a slight chance at conjuring up an unlikely win, provided rain gods make way quickly.
With heavy skies looming in the morning, Sarfaraz welcomed William O’Rourke with two off-side cuts before taking another four and dismissing Matt 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 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 the helmet, shouted, and swung the bat joyfully, before receiving a bear hug from Pant, as the stadium was up on its feet to applaud an incredible knock under pressure.
While Sarfaraz continued to paddle and dip his way to additional boundaries, Pant started to let free, hammering Southee for six and four, respectively. He then demonstrated terrific footwork by hammering Ajaz Patel for two big sixes before overturning a lbw ruling when replays revealed a significant inside edge.
It was followed by New Zealand burning a review on the very next ball, when Pant batted on the skiddy delivery. Pant then struck two more boundaries from Patel and Glenn Phillips to reach fifty in 55 balls, putting an end to any concerns about his fitness after hobbling off the field after being hurt on the right knee while wicketkeeping on day two.
Brief scores: India 46 and 344/3 (Sarfaraz Khan 125*, Virat Kohli 70, Rishabh Pant 53*; Ajaz Patel 2-100) trail New Zealand 402 (Rachin Ravindra 134, Devon Conway 91; Ravindra Jadeja 3-72) by 12 runs.
Source:IANS
