On Day 3 of the ongoing maiden Test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru on Friday, the Indians posted a score of 231/3 at Stumps. Rohit Sharma (52) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (35) gave India a tremendous start after New Zealand managed to build a commanding lead of 336 runs, but they were dismissed by Ajaz Patel. After that, Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli spearheaded India’s comeback, with the former losing his wicket on the final ball. After 70 runs off 102 balls, Kohli was out.Sarfaraz, however, was still undefeated at 70* off 78 deliveries. In the second session, India was able to remove New Zealand for 402 runs. The final player to fall, Rachin Ravindra, hit 134 runs in 157 balls before succumbing to Mohammed Siraj. He left the Chinnaswamy Stadium to a standing ovation.
Together, Ravindra and Tim Southee scorched 137 runs in just 132 balls for the eighth wicket, shattering the confidence of the Indian bowlers and fielders. India, who had started the day well by taking four wickets in the first half of the first session, has virtually lost the match due to the stand. When Southee fell to Siraj for 65 off 83 balls, the stand came to an end, but Ravindra struck again to push New Zealand’s score beyond 400. Ravindra received congratulations from the Indian players and a standing ovation from the Bengaluru audience, where his paternal grandparents still reside.
During the second half of the first session, Southee and Ravindra unleashed an incredible attack that gave New Zealand a commanding lead at lunch. The opening session saw the visitors smash 165 runs, with Southee and Ravindra’s partnership standing at 112 off just 97 balls at lunch. While Southee was on 49 after 50 balls, Ravindra walked back having scored 104 off 125 balls. With three more sixes, Southee’s career total in Test cricket was tied with Virender Sehwag’s 91. As a result, New Zealand led 299 at the end of the session.their 345/7 score in 81 runs. At the end of the innings, Southee had hit 93 sixes in his career. Day 3 began with the visitors leading by 134 runs. Earlier in the day, they had finished with a score of 180/3 in 50 overs after dismissing India for a record-low 46.
With openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway getting off to a fast start, New Zealand almost easily built a lead in the opening innings. In the end, Latham left after scoring 15 off 49 balls. Conway established a solid connection with Will Young in the interim, but Young fell for 33 off 75 balls. Conway lost his wicket to R Ashwin for 91 off 105 balls, meaning he was short of a century.
In 31.2 overs, India was knocked out for 46, with only Rishabh Pant (20) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) scoring in double figures. In the meanwhile, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, and Virat Kohli left for ducks. Matt Henry claimed five wickets for the bowling unit of New Zealand, while Will O’Rourke claimed four wickets.
