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October 20, 2024
India suffered a dramatic collapse, losing seven wickets for just 54 runs after a stunning 177-run partnership between Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant. This left New Zealand on the verge of their first Test victory in India in 36 years, needing just 107 runs to win. Interestingly, this target is the lowest ever defended successfully in India, a record set during a challenging pitch in Mumbai back in 2004-05.
The match showcased the highs and lows of Test cricket. Sarfaraz and Pant initially put the New Zealand bowlers under immense pressure, scoring 177 runs in just over 35 overs. India aimed to make history by becoming only the second team to win a Test after scoring fewer than 50 runs in their first innings. However, the game turned when the second new ball was introduced, leading to a swift collapse. In total, India lost 17 wickets for 108 runs to the first and third new balls, despite scoring an impressive 400 runs for just three wickets in the middle.
India’s aggressive batting style meant that the second new ball was New Zealand’s last chance to regain control. Had they failed to capitalize, a draw would have been the best outcome. Remarkably, despite being dominated for much of the match, New Zealand displayed exceptional skill and determination to stage a comeback.
In less than 20 overs, New Zealand forced India into 43 false shots, a significant increase compared to the 72 they induced in the first 80 overs. This shift in momentum was largely due to Sarfaraz Khan’s aggressive approach, swinging wildly at the new ball. Despite this, his strategy paid off as he scored 150 runs, displaying a carefree attitude toward the bowling. Rishabh Pant also attempted to counterattack; however, he gloved a sweep shot off Tim Southee, and later slog-swept him for a huge six. Unfortunately, he fell to the 6’6″ Will O’Rourke while on 99, marking his seventh dismissal in the 90s, adding to his six centuries.
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O’Rourke was particularly impressive, with figures of 3-3-0-3 at one point after the new ball was taken, while Matt Henry picked up the last three wickets with precise seam bowling. This match highlighted the steep challenges teams face after being bowled out for just 46 runs. Sarfaraz and Pant continued their partnership from a strong position of 231 for 3 on day three, showcasing their innovative and thrilling batting style as teammates from the Under-19 World Cup.
Sarfaraz transformed his first Test century into an impressive 150, marking his 11th score of 150 or more out of 16 first-class hundreds. Pant, who was nursing a knee injury from a serious road accident, matched Sarfaraz’s audacity despite struggling with his running, turning several potential doubles into singles as he approached his own century. As he walked back to the pavilion, he cast a wistful glance at the sky.
Sarfaraz displayed his flair with late cuts and ramps, evading the bowling, while Pant aggressively slog-swept fast bowlers and charged down the pitch, hitting them past mid-off. His five sixes propelled him past Kapil Dev, placing him sixth among India’s all-time Test six-hitters. Before the new ball was introduced, New Zealand’s best chance for a wicket came from a run-out opportunity at Pant’s end. However, Tom Blundell, who left his position to collect a wide throw, missed the chance, allowing Pant to continue his innings when he was just on 6 runs.
As Rishabh Pant cautiously started his innings, scoring 12 runs off the first 24 balls, Sarfaraz Khan wasted no time showcasing his flair, ramping O’Rourke’s first delivery of the day with nonchalance. Even with New Zealand reinforcing their field with a deep third and a deep point, Sarfaraz skillfully split the fielders.
Soon, Pant joined in on the fun. The duo displayed an audacious attitude, disregarding field placements and showing no fear of making mistakes, which left the New Zealand bowlers struggling to contain the flow of runs and frustrate captain Tom Latham. Ajaz Patel, in particular, was a letdown, turning the ball less effectively than part-timer Rachin Ravindra.
New Zealand’s seam bowlers seemed intent on trapping Sarfaraz lbw, but their strategy only gifted him easy singles on the leg side. When the keeper moved up to the stumps to contain Pant, it created an opportunity for an edge, but the deteriorating pitch didn’t provide enough bounce for a catch. Pant soon responded by lofting Southee for a six over his head.
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In the eighth over of the day, Sarfaraz punched Southee to deep cover, securing what would have been a single for any other batter. His clever late-cuts had drawn the fielders away, allowing him to hit a boundary that marked an emotional milestone: his century.
When Ajaz bowled a delivery that kicked up from the rough, Pant was fortunate to glove it straight down. This spurred him to take a more aggressive approach. In one thrilling over from Ajaz, Pant hit two sixes, surviving both an inside edge that saved him from lbw and an outside edge that evaded the catch. He still managed to hit another four during that over, bringing India’s total boundaries to 47, surpassing their entire first innings score.
Sarfaraz Khan navigated through seven different types of false shots before finally lobbing one to cover as the ball seamed away from him. Rishabh Pant, still adjusting to the new ball, attempted a sweep but soon shocked the crowd with a massive slog-sweep for six, bringing him into the 90s.
Then came Will O’Rourke, who had previously been ramped for four on his first delivery in the morning. This time, his first ball nipped back sharply, catching Pant’s bottom edge and silencing the crowd. O’Rourke’s extra bounce and seam movement also claimed the wicket of KL Rahul, and he later dismissed Ravindra Jadeja when a delivery slowly came off the surface, resulting in a toe-end pull.
Matt Henry bowled an impressive ten-over spell, keeping a lid on India’s scoring and taking the last three wickets to add to his five from the first innings. As the match progressed, Indian fans shifted from hoping for the rain to stop to praying for a torrential downpour, but India’s players were less than pleased when they were asked to leave the field early due to bad light, which later escalated into a significant storm. With the new ball moving, India hoped for some damage to be done under the artificial lights.
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