New Zealand have been left needing 107 to win their first Test on Indian soil since 1988 after the home side collapsed in the final session of the penultimate day’s play despite a tremendous fightback from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant.
At stumps on another rain-affected day on Saturday, the Black Caps were yet to open their account in their second innings when darkness stopped play.
India lost seven wickets for just 54 runs in their second innings, collapsing to 462 all out in 99.3 overs.
Pacer Will O’Rourke picked up 3-92, while Matt Henry took 3-102 to end the Indian threat.
The fightback was centred around a 177-run partnership between Khan and Pant.
Khan scored his first Test century with 150 off 195 balls, while Pant was bowled – agonisingly for him – on 99.
India had been bowled out for 46, their lowest score in home Tests, in the first innings, with New Zealand replying with 402, a lead of 356.
After lunch, when India were 3-344, there was another rain delay and 24 overs were lost.
When play resumed, Khan and Pant continued their unbeaten 113-run partnership.
Khan became the third Indian batter to score a duck and 150 in the same Test.
Earlier, he had reached his maiden hundred off 110 balls, sparking celebrations. Khan had resumed on 70no overnight and counter-attacked the New Zealand bowling throughout.
Khan hit 18 fours and three sixes in his knock, while Pant smacked nine fours and five sixes.
That ended as New Zealand took the second new ball before tea and got the breakthrough.
Tim Southee had Khan caught in the 85th over, but the big moment came when O’Rourke bowled Pant in the 89th.
It triggered India’s collapse, with the lower-middle order unable to resist the new ball.
O’Rourke had Lokesh Rahul caught behind for 12, while Ravindra Jadeja was out for five.
Henry trapped Ravichandran Ashwin lbw for 15 and then removed the tailenders in the space of six deliveries.
India lost their last six wickets for 29 runs across 68 deliveries.
Rain prevented any further play after just four deliveries in the Kiwi innings. Jasprit Bumrah had a loud lbw shout turned down against Tom Latham as India lost a review.
The lowest total India have defended to win a Test on home soil is 107 against Australia at Mumbai in 2004.
India lead the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but assure their spot for the final at Lord’s next June following their recent 2-0 win over Bangladesh.
New Zealand have been on a long sub-continental tour, beginning with a washed-out Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka.
The second match in the three-Test series will be played in Pune starting next Thursday and the final one in Mumbai from November 1.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au