A day where wickets fell in clusters. A day where bowlers came out of nowhere. A day where pendulum swung from one team to another. These lines sum up an engrossing India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 1. New Zealand after winning the toss and electing to bat first were cruising at 159 for 3 before Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul restricted them to 235 all out. In reply, India were blistering at 78 for 1 before three quick wickets brought New Zealand back in the contest.
India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 1 Live – India Scalp Three Wickets in the First Session
India, in a bid to salvage a win after New Zealand crushed India in Pune to win the three-match Test Series, came to Mumbai. New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first on a good surface at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Kiwis made two changes to their line-ups – Ish Sodhi came in for Mitchell Santner, who misses out due to a side strain, whereas Tim Southee made way to the fit-again Matt Henry. On the other hand, India made one change, replacing Jasprit Bumrah, who was not well, with Mohd. Siraj.
Tom Latham opened the team’s account on the first ball as he tucked Mohd. Siraj to the left of square leg fielder for a single. He scored the first boundary of the day the next over, however, with an outside edge off Akash Deep to the left of the gully fielder. India picked the first wicket of the day when Akash Deep trapped Devon Conway leg before wicket for four runs. Akash Deep kept things tight by not allowing Tom Latham and Will Young to score freely. Will Young, however, guided one past the slip cordon for a boundary off Akash Deep in the 10th over. He struck another boundary on the last ball of that over to take Kiwis to 37 for 1 in India vs New Zealand 3rd Test on Day1. Tom Latham brought up New Zealand’s 50 by sweeping Washington Sundar for a boundary.
Sundar Strikes Twice After the First Hour of India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 1
Will Young stepped out to hit a six off Ravichandran Ashwin at deep mid-wicket to signal New Zealand’s intention to score runs at a good pace at Wankhede. Washington Sundar gave India the second breakthrough by knocking the off stump of Tom Latham, who scored 28. He then knocked over Rachin Ravindra for five runs. Sundar bowled Rachin for three successive times in the India vs New Zealand Test Series 2024. New Zealand reached 92 for 3 at Lunch. Will Young and Daryl Mitchell stood not out at 38 and 11, respectively.
Young Starts Well After Lunch, Scores a Half-century with a Six
Will Young and Daryl Mitchell came out with an intent to push New Zealand ahead. Young completed his half-century with a six straight down the ground off Washington Sundar. Despite turn and bounce, these two looked assured at the crease. Mitchell brought up the 50-run stand between him and Young with a single off Ravindra Jadeja to long-off. They continued to pick ones and twos even as the boundaries dried up. The first hour after Lunch yielded New Zealand 42 runs without a wicket.
Jadeja Claims Three Wickets, NZ Reach 192 for 6 at Tea
Mitchell hit his first boundary by sweeping Jadeja across the line in front of square for four. The next over saw Young reverse sweeping Ashwin for a boundary behind the wicket. The same shot Mitchell employed against Jadeja in the 43rd over to register his second boundary. However, Ravindra Jadeja got one to turn and bounce to induce an outside edge of Young to Rohit Sharma at first slip. The fourth-wicket stand lasted for 87 runs. Will Young was out for 71, smashing Jadeja then bowled Tom Blundell in that over to leave New Zealand reeling at 159 for 5, all of a sudden.
Glenn Philips came and started rotating the strike to ease the pressure off New Zealand at the fall of two quick wickets. Mitchell stepped out to hit a boundary on the off-side off Ashwin in the 52nd over. A couple of balls later, he brought up his half-century with a tuck on the on-side. Philips hit his first boundary by slapping Jadeja through the extra cover region. However, Jadeja struck the next ball by knocking Philips’ middle stump out. He scored 17 runs. Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhi took New Zealand to 192 for 6 at Tea, scoring 100 runs and losing three wickets in the post-lunch session.
India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 1 Final Session – India Wrap Kiwis for 235
Dary Mitchell and Ish Sodhi came after the Tea break and started rotating strike to take Kiwis past the 200-run mark before Ravindra Jadeha had New Zealand’s number 8 trapped leg before wicket for 7. A couple of balls later, Jadeja knocked over Matt Henry for a duck to leave New Zealand at 210 for 8. Dary Mitchell, seeing his partners lose wickets at the other end, perished in his attempt to go for runs. He attempted to glide Washington Sundar past the first-slip fielder Rohit Sharma but could not do so. Mitchell scored a brisk 82 off 129 balls, smashing three fours and as many sixes. Ajaz Patel hit a six off Sundar and then didn’t offer a stroke to an incoming delivery and was adjudged LBW. Although Ajaz decided to take the review, the replays clearly confirmed that the ball was crashing into the middle stump.
India Finish at 86 for 4 in Reply
India started well with the bat as both Rohit Sharma started smashing boundaries to put the New Zealand bowlers under pressure. However, his stay at the crease was cut short by a cutter that opened up Rohit Sharma and took his outside edge to Tom Latham at second slip. Shubhman Gill, in the company of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, started clobbering Kiwi bowlers. Gill, in particular, was severe against spin bowlers. He used his feet to hammer Kiwi bowlers. However, Jaiswal missed a reverse sweep off Ajaz Patel to see his stumps being castled over. Jaiswal scored 30 runs, hitting four fours.
Mohd. Siraj came in as a nightwatchman and perished first ball. Ajaz got him trapped leg before wicket. Virat Kohli struck a boundary to open his account and then was out run out to send shockwaves across the Indian camp and the crowd assembled at Wankhede. Men in Blue reached 86 for 4 at stumps of India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 1
