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October 22, 2024
Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant made a significant impact on the morning of Day 4, adding 113 runs to India’s total. Their partnership helped India reach 344 for 3 at Lunch on Saturday, October 19, reducing the deficit to just 12 runs. The session, unfortunately, ended early due to rain after 105 minutes of play, but it was enough time for Sarfaraz to achieve his maiden Test century and for Pant to secure another explosive half-century.
Sarfaraz wasted no time in making his presence felt, starting the day aggressively. He struck William O’Rourke for two boundaries over the slips in just the second over of the day. Shortly after, he guided a delivery from Matt Henry through gully for another boundary. His intent to dominate the bowlers was clear from the outset, and he maintained a brisk scoring rate.
Pant, following Sarfaraz’s lead, soon joined the boundary spree. Together, they punished the New Zealand bowlers, rapidly closing in on the deficit. Their combined efforts not only solidified India’s position but also set the stage for a potential lead, despite the rain curtailing the session.
Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant’s brilliant partnership not only solidified India’s position but also set the stage for a potential lead, despite rain interrupting the session. Sarfaraz was particularly impressive against New Zealand’s bowlers, who tried to test him with an off-stump line. However, he expertly countered with a mix of dabs, flicks, lofted shots, and uppercuts. His century came with a powerful punch through the covers, marking a memorable maiden Test ton.
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Pant, who initially played a supporting role, soon shifted gears. He muscled Tim Southee for a towering six straight down the ground, followed by sharp cuts through point and cover. His aggressive intent grew as the session progressed, particularly when facing spinner Ajaz Patel. Pant unleashed a flurry of boundaries, smashing two sixes and a four in one over, ensuring that India’s scoring rate remained healthy.
While Sarfaraz adopted a slightly more conservative approach after reaching his century, Pant’s power-hitting ensured that India stayed on the front foot. Their dynamic partnership not only closed the gap in the first innings but also put pressure on New Zealand’s bowlers, setting the tone for the remainder of the match.
It took New Zealand 48 minutes into Day 4 to bowl their first maiden over, with Ajaz Patel managing to keep Sarfaraz Khan quiet. Opportunities for New Zealand were few and far between, as India’s batsmen dominated most of the session. There were only a couple of moments where the visitors saw a glimmer of hope.
New Zealand had a couple of leg-before-wicket appeals, but none of them posed a real threat. There was also a brief moment of miscommunication between Pant and Sarfaraz while running between the wickets, but luckily for India, it didn’t lead to any serious trouble.
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Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan legspinner, has rejoined the Bangladesh coaching staff as a spin bowling consultant for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa. He was previously with the team during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and on their tour of Pakistan. However, other commitments had prevented him from being part of the coaching staff during their tour of India. Mushtaq had expressed his desire to return to the Bangladesh team after fulfilling those commitments.
On Saturday, October 19, Mushtaq was active during the team’s net session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. He worked closely with the players, providing guidance on their spin bowling techniques. He also engaged in lengthy discussions with the newly appointed head coach, Phil Simmons, who recently took over from Chandika Hathurusingha.
“He( Mushtaq) is here for this [South Africa] series. This year, whenever he is available and does not have any prior commitments, he will work series by series with us. Right now, he is here, we’ll see what happens in the next series,” a BCB official told Cricbuzz.
Another official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) mentioned that they plan to sign a long-term contract with Mushtaq Ahmed by the end of this year, provided everything goes according to plan. However, it is still uncertain if Mushtaq will be available for the ODI series against Afghanistan and the tour of the West Indies later this year. His participation will depend on both his schedule and the BCB’s interest in securing his services for the long term.
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