New Zealand, courtesy of a brilliant 134 by Rachin Ravindra and an excellent half-century from Southee sit at the top of India in this gripping Test match at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Day 3. Kiwis are still ahead by 125 runs despite Indian batters doing way better than their dismal performance on Day 2. Kohli’s departure on the last ball shifted the momentum in Blackcap’s favour as India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 3 came to an interesting close.
India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 3 – Kiwis Regain Control After a Sudden Collapse
Rachin Ravindra flicked the first ball of the day on the leg side for a boundary off Mohd Siraj. However, the Indian paceman soon got rid of Daryl Mitchell for 18 who faced 49 balls. It was a length delivery outside the off stump that jumped a little to take the outside edge on the way to Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully who accepted it gleefully. Rachin Ravindra brought up New Zealand’s 200 by hitting Siraj down the ground for a boundary.
Jasprit Bumrah, who struggled to find the length on India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 2, was probing the batters around the off stump area on Day 3. He finally got his first wicket by making Tom Blundell poke at a delivery outside off to KL Rahul at second slip. Glenn Philips lived dangerously for his 14 before Ravindra Jadeja knocked his middle stump. Jadeja also bowled Matt Henry out a couple of overs later. NZ were suddenly down to 233 for 7 from 180 for 3 when they started Day 3.
Equation Changed as Rachin, Southee Take New Zealand to 345 at Lunch
Rachin Ravindra brought up his half-century by hitting Jadeja to a boundary at long-on. With that, New Zealand’s lead swelled past the 200-run mark. Ravindra also hit the next ball off Jadeja to a boundary. He found an able ally in Tim Southee as the duo continued to pound bowlers at Chinnaswamy in India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 3. New Zealand scored 165 runs in the first session, including 58 runs in the last four overs leading to lunch. Rachin Ravindra registered a well-deserved hundred.
India vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 3, Session 2 – Kiwis Bowled Out for 402, Take a Lead of 356 Runs
The Rachin-Southee duo continued to torment bowlers with a dazzling strokeplay after lunch. India finally broke the partnership as Southee was done in by the change of pace by Siraj. He hit it straight to Jadeja at covers. Southee scored 65 off 73, hitting five fours and four sixes. Kuldeep Yadav then took the remaining two wickets of Ajaz Patel and the Centurion Rachin Ravindra to bowl out Kiwis for 402. Rachin was out for 134 off 157 balls, smashing 13 fours and four sixes.Tom Latham-led unit gained a massive first innings lead of 356 runs in India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 3.
India Reply Strongly as Rohit, Virat and Sarfaraz Hit Half Centuries
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal shared an unbeaten partnership of 57 till tea in response to New Zealand’s lead of 356 runs. Rohit and Yashavi scored 27 and 29, respectively, till that point. The duo continued to score runs easily till Ajaz Patel got Yashasvi stumped by Tom Blundell at India’s score of 72. A rash shot from Jaiswal saw his downfall. Then Rohit Sharma went berserk with two fours and a six off consecutive balls to bring up yet another Test 50. But soon after, he fell to Ajaz Patel who knocked his stumps over.
Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan blistered to notch up a century stand. Both of them hit half centuries to keep India in the hunt. Kohli went to complete 9,000 runs in Test cricket. However, Glenn Philips broke the 136-run stand as Kohli edged to Blundell behind the wicket on the last ball of the day. India ended Day 3 with a score of 231 for 3, still trailing by 125 runs. Kohli was out for 70, hitting 8 fours and a six, while Sarfaraz smashed 70 on the back of 7 fours and 3 sixes.
