India vs New Zealand: Rain halts play on Day 4; India trails by 12 runs
India vs New Zealand: The first Test match between India and New Zealand is underway at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. As the game entered its fourth day on Saturday, rain interrupted the proceedings, forcing a temporary halt. Currently, India is trailing by just 12 runs, with their score at 344/3 in the second innings.
Sarfaraz Khan Shines with a Century; Rishabh Pant Holds Firm
Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant have been the standout performers for India in the second innings. Sarfaraz reached his century earlier in the day, while Rishabh Pant completed a valuable half-century. The two batsmen have built a crucial century partnership for the fourth wicket, stabilising India’s innings after early setbacks.
Virat Kohli, who scored a well-crafted 70, was dismissed on the last ball of the third day. He fell to Glenn Phillips, caught behind by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Other notable contributions came from Rohit Sharma, who scored 52, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who added 35 runs to the scoreboard. For New Zealand, Ajaz Patel picked up two wickets, while Glenn Phillips took one. The partnership between Kohli and Sarfaraz was instrumental, adding 136 runs for the third wicket.
New Zealand’s Dominance in the First Innings
New Zealand posted a total of 402 runs in their first innings, securing a significant lead of 356 runs. The second day of the match saw India struggling as they were bowled out for just 46 runs, a major setback in the first innings. Notably, the first day's play was completely washed out due to rain.
Key Highlights of Day 4
India Crosses 250: Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant’s resilience helped India cross the 250-run mark, bringing New Zealand’s lead to below 100 runs.
Pant’s Close Call: Rishabh Pant narrowly avoided a runout during the innings, thanks to a quick warning from Sarfaraz Khan, who called him back.
Sarfaraz’s Milestone: Sarfaraz Khan reached his maiden Test century by hitting a boundary, solidifying his place in the team's middle order.
India Reaches 300: The team crossed the 300-run mark, further reducing the deficit and putting pressure back on the New Zealand bowlers.
Pant’s Resilience: Rishabh Pant was given three lifelines by the New Zealand fielders, which he capitalised on to anchor India's innings.
Rain Interrupts Play: Play had to be stopped due to rain after 71 overs, with the ground staff quickly covering the pitch and the outfield. Prior to the interruption, Rishabh Pant reached his half-century by hitting a boundary off Glenn Phillips, marking his 11th Test fifty. The partnership between Sarfaraz Khan and Pant brought stability to India’s innings, adding over 100 runs for the fourth wicket.
- With inputs from agencies
