New Delhi: India need a miracle to turnaround the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand despite the herculean efforts put by their batters in the last two days. To cut out a gigantic 356-run lead, it was any day going to be more demanding than it asked for.
If the end of the gameplay on Day 3 oozed optimism for India’s comeback, the fourth day has turned things gloomy for the hosts. It was the new ball which inflicted a batting collapse to hinder India’s ambitions of overcoming in the overcast conditions at the M.Chinnaswamy stadium.
The day embarked with match-doubtful Rishabh Pant joining forces with the in-form Sarfaraz Khan. The duo maintained to score over a run-rate of 5, toiling the New Zealand bowlers even harder to break their stand. Sarfaraz registered his maiden Test century for India and later converted into a gusty 150. It was the determination of Pant, who was kept out of the field as a precautionary measure in endurance of a knee swelling.
Pant and Sarfaraz added 177 runs for the fourth wicket, almost inching closer towards the lead. It was just before the rain showers returned on the pitch after a gap of two days. When the Indian batters returned, the scoring rate wasn’t hampered.
Just then New Zealand were handed the second new ball, nearly 45 minutes before the Tea break. It was a moment, in hindsight, that paved the path for their return into the game. Though India were successful in clinching the lead, it was just one or two wickets New Zealand were awaiting for to chart their opponent’s fall-down. And that worked,
diligently, for the Black Caps.
William O’Rouke and Matt Henry, the tormentors for India in the first innings, were once again at the heart of blowing off the host batting side. But it was senior man Tim Southee who got the much-needed breakthrough with Sarfaraz Khan’s dismissal.
Though Sarfaraz attempted to attack against the new ball right after it was introduced, the Indian middle order batter soon perished while attempting to hit the Kiwi pacer’s outswinger over the covers, but ended up finding Ajaz Patel.
Pant was unfazed by the presence of the new ball and was in his zone and played his shots. He even went down his knees to slog Southee over square leg for a 107m six. Pant’s flamboyance couldn’t continue when he dragged a O’Rouke delivery on to his stumps, missing on his seventh Test century.
The likes of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja had no answers against the new ball as India lost their last five wickets for 29 runs only. New Zealand were set a minuscule target of 107 before their innings was cut short to four balls in the end with rain showers ending the day’s play.
India needed a close to 250-run partnership in this innings to add any outright chance for a win. The woes to play new ball comes after India were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 46 on home soil in the first innings on the second day.
