October 22, 2024

Sarfaraz Scores 150, but New Zealand Takes Three Wickets Just Before Tea

In the post-Lunch session, New Zealand took three wickets, but Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant’s impressive partnership of 177 runs helped India overcome their first innings deficit. At 438 for 6, India now leads by 82 runs, with four sessions left to play in the first Test in Bengaluru.

A brief interruption caused an early Lunch and delayed the start of the second session on Saturday, but Sarfaraz and Pant quickly regained their momentum. They started the day strong, and even though their scoring slowed down a bit, they found plenty of singles due to a spread-out field. Sarfaraz played creatively to find boundaries, while Pant consistently challenged the boundary fielders.

The batters looked completely in control with the old ball, but about 45 minutes before the Tea break, the introduction of the second new ball posed some challenges due to its extra bounce and movement. Sarfaraz tried to be aggressive against Tim Southee but was beaten by the ball’s movement. Despite this setback, he continued to fight until his long innings ended shortly after he scored his 11th first-class century, driving Southee’s delivery to the cover fielder.

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Pant’s Steady Scoring Ends Unluckily, While Sarfaraz Shines with His Maiden Test Century

On the other hand, Pant kept scoring steadily, finding gaps in the field. He even executed a spectacular slog sweep against Southee for a six, looking comfortable as he approached his century. However, just one run shy of the milestone, he unintentionally dragged a delivery from William O’Rourke onto his stumps.

Rahul, who had been waiting in the dressing room for a long time, didn’t last long at the crease, edging a delivery to the wicketkeeper just before Tea. Earlier in the day, Sarfaraz and Pant had taken charge, scoring 113 runs in a rain-shortened morning session, which brought India’s deficit down to just 12 runs by Lunch.

Their partnership was nearly flawless, with only a couple of leg-before appeals against Pant and a missed run-out chance by New Zealand. Sarfaraz took full advantage of the areas outside off-stump, using punches, cuts, dabs, and lofted shots to reach his maiden Test century.

Sarfaraz and Pant Shine, But Collapse Sets New Zealand a Target of 107

William O’Rourke and Matt Henry each took three wickets, helping to dismiss India for 462 on Day 4 and setting New Zealand a target of 107 runs to win the first Test in Bengaluru. It was a day of shifting momentum.

Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant initially guided India to erase the lead smoothly in the rain-affected morning session. However, O’Rourke and Henry then sparked a collapse, taking the last six Indian wickets for just 54 runs. Bad light and heavy rain allowed New Zealand to bat for only four balls in a tricky period before stumps were called on Saturday.

The fourth morning started in India’s favor. Following their dominant performance the previous evening, marked by a century partnership between Sarfaraz and Virat Kohli, India continued to thrive on a pitch that provided little assistance to the bowlers. Sarfaraz quickly found his rhythm, hitting a series of boundaries from the second over. He was drawn outside off-stump but capitalized on it with his wide range of shots—cuts, lofts, dabs, and punches—scoring quickly through the point and third man regions. Pant soon joined in, hitting Ajaz Patel for two sixes and a four in a single over.

With a largely spread-out field, singles were easy to come by, but Sarfaraz and Pant kept looking for boundaries. Sarfaraz celebrated his maiden Test century, while Pant moved along smoothly despite missing a few aggressive shots. He was trapped on the pads a couple of times but survived thanks to inside edges. He also narrowly avoided a run-out, completing a single while watching the ball as his partner waved animatedly to get his attention. It was a misjudgment by Devon Conway and keeper Tom Blundell that allowed Pant to make it back to the crease safely.

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Sarfaraz and Pant’s Stellar Partnership Derailed by New Zealand’s Bowling as India Faces a Challenging Finish

Together, they formed a 177-run partnership that helped India erase the first innings deficit and set themselves up for a strong lead. However, the introduction of the second new ball changed the game’s dynamics. Sarfaraz chased the first delivery from Tim Southee, missing the outswinger, but he remained aggressive. Unfortunately, one of his ambitious shots—a drive to covers—led to his dismissal. Pant continued his aggressive play, even going down on one knee to slog sweep Southee for an impressive 107-meter six.

O’Rourke ended Pant’s innings, who was batting on 99, by bowling with more threatening lines and lengths, utilizing his extra pace and bounce effectively. Pant accidentally played a ball back onto his stumps, which allowed New Zealand to swiftly dismiss the rest of the Indian lineup.

KL Rahul edged a delivery to the wicketkeeper just before Tea, and Ravindra Jadeja fell early in the third session, chipping a pull shot off the toe end of his bat to Will Young. Henry then took control of the tail, trapping R. Ashwin leg-before, getting Bumrah to edge one to the keeper, and having Siraj caught at mid-on.

India’s lowest successful target defended in Tests is 107 runs against Australia at Wankhede in 2004. However, the pitch at Chinnaswamy is unlikely to be as favorable for spinners. Rain has been a factor throughout the Test, with scattered thunderstorms predicted for Sunday. With a low total to defend and the weather likely to influence the outcome, the Bengaluru Test is set for an exciting finish.

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