What a day and what a Test match it proved out to be. New Zealand defended a modest 146 at Wankhede Stadium by bowling out the home side India to 121, buoyed by a six-wicket haul from Ajaz Patel. It was an incredible India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 3. While Rishabh Pant kept India in the hunt despite the early loss of five wickets, New Zealand were patient enough to recreate a history on the Indian soil. Tom Latham and his boys did the unthinkable of inflicting a 3-0 whitewash over India, bringing cheers among them and their fans. Ajaz Patel won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for 11 wickets in the match. Will Young, on the other hand, bagged the ‘Player of the Series’ award for scoring 244 runs in the series. Kiwis, TAKE A BOW, you have been superb!
India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 3 Live – Kiwis Bowled Out for 174, Take a Lead of 146
India wrapped up New Zealand’s second innings quickly on Day 3 as Ajaz Patel in an attempt to score quickly was holed out in the deep by Akash Deep off Jadeja, who took another five-wicket haul in India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 3. He scored just 8. New Zealand could only add three runs to their overnight lead of 143 runs over India.
India Lose Early Wickets in Pursuit of 147
India skipper Rohit Sharma after being hit on the pad by Matt Henry looked assured and aggressive at the same time. He smacked a boundary off Henry in the first over to Kickstart the chase. The following over saw Sharma smashing a boundary off Ajaz Patel. It seemed Rohit would take India through.
However, a bouncer from Henry in the following over got big on Rohit’s bat and Glenn Philips took a tumbling catch at mid-on. The next over saw Shubman Gill leaving an arm delivery from Ajaz Patel only to see his off stump knocked over. India suddenly found themselves at 16 for 2 and in trouble. More trouble as Virat Kohli edged one off Ajaz Patel to Daryl Mitchell at first slip to leave India reeling at 18 for 3.
Rishabh Pant opened his account with a massive six straight down the ground. However, his partner Yashasvi Jaiswal was out leg before wicket to Glenn Philips. India were in tatters at 28 for 4. Sarfaraz Khan came and perished attempting a sweep shot off Ajaz Patel to Rachin Ravindra at deep square leg. Half the side was out at 29.
India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 3 – Pant, Jadeja Stitch a Useful Partnership of 42 Runs
The pressure was back on India with the loss of five quick wickets. However, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja steadied things by defending well with the former hitting boundaries in between. Rishabh Pant raised India’s 50 with a couple off Glenn Philips. The partnership was smooth before Ravindra Jadeja inside edged to a delivery off Ajaz Patel to Will Young at short leg, who dived to take a catch. India were 71 for 6 at that stage. Washington Sundar and Rishabh Pant took India to 92 for 6 at Lunch with the latter hitting a half-century. Pant was at 53 off 50 and Sundar remained unbeaten at 6.
India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 3, Post-lunch Session
India began the session by taking quick singles. Rishabh Pant nearly got run out while running on the call of Washington Sundar. Pant raised India’s hundred with a boundary off Ajaz Patel to the wide of long-on fielder. He hit another boundary in that over, this time at deep square leg. However, Rishabh Pant perished while edging one off Ajaz Patel to the pad that lobbed to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. The on-field umpire Richard Illingworth didn’t give him out. However, New Zealand took the review and in that, Pant was found to have edged the ball. He was out for 64 off 57 balls with 9 fours and a six punctuated his counterattacking knock at Wankhede. It was Ajaz Patel’s another five-wicket haul in the match.
A few overs later, Ravichandran Ashwin survived as the ball went on to hit the stump, but the bails didn’t come off. However, he could not survive long as he gloved one to Tom Blundell off Glenn Philips for 8. Philips then knocked over Akash Deep the very next ball as the New Zealand off-spinner was on a hat-trick. The next over Ajaz Patel knocked over Washington Sundar for 12, inflicting a 3-0 whitewash over India. It’s the first time India have been whitewashed at home for a Test Series involving three matches and more.
