New Zealand continue to dominate India for the third straight day as the hosts look certain to win the first Test at Basin Reserve, Wellington. Catch highlights of Day 3 here
India were 144 for four in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Sunday. They still trail New Zealand by 39 runs with six wickets in hand. Catch highlights of day's play here:
Day 2 Highlights | Day 3 Report | Cricket News
India Second Innings & 165; New Zealand 1st Innings - 348; Toss - New Zealand
12:15 PM IST: Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari were the two unbeaten at the close of play as India faced 65 overs in their second innings. Opener Mayank Agarwal made a fine 58. Prithvi Shaw (14), Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and skipper Virat Kohli (19) all got out after starts.
Trent Boult (3/27) was pick of the bowlers for New Zealand in India's second innings.
New Zealand were earlier bowled out for 348 in their first innings in reply to India's below-par 165. Resuming at the overnight score of 216 for 5, New Zealand added 132 runs in the morning session. Skipper Kane Williamson top-scored for New Zealand with 89.
Ishant Sharma was the star performer with the ball for India with figures of five for 68, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin scalped three wickets giving away 99 runs.
Brief Score:
India: 165 all out & 144 for 4 (Mayank Agarwal 58, Ajinkya Rahane 15 not out, Hanuma Vihari 15 not out; Trent Boult 3/27).
New Zealand: 348 all out in 100.2 overs (Kane Williamson 89, Ross Taylor 44, Kyle Jamieson 44; Ishant Sharma 5/68, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/99).
12:08 PM IST: Hanuma Vihari (15 off 70) hits Kyle Jamieson and that's all for today. He and Ajinkya Rahane (25 off 67) added 31 for the 5th wicket. India still trail New Zeland by 39 runs. IND - 144/4 (65) & 165; NZ - 348.
11:43 AM IST: Ajinkya Rahane (22 off 54) hit Kyle Jamieson for back-to-back fours in the 59th over. He has added 23 runs in 88 balls with Hanuma Vihari (6 off 48). India still trail by 47 runs. IND - 136/4 (60) & 165; NZ - 348.
11:25 AM IST: Ajinkya Rahane (13 off 43) just copped a blow on his helmet. Nasty bouncer from Tim Southee. Rahane and Hanuma Vihari (9 off 40) have added 13 runs in 64 balls, with 12 coming from the last ten overs. India still trail by 57 runs. IND - 126/4 (56) & 165; NZ - 348.
11:00 AM IST: India still need another 60 runs to make New Zealand bat again. But the visitors are staring at a certain defeat. Ajinkya Rahane (12 off 28) and Hanuma Vihari (7 off 19) can, however, delay the inevitable. IND - 123/4 (50) & 165; NZ - 348.
10:41 AM IST: Massive wicket! Captain Virat Kohli (19 off 43) gone. Trent Boult had him caught behind. Third wicket for the pacer. Hanuma Vihari joined Ajinkya Rahane in the centre. IND - 114/4 (46) & 165; NZ - 348.
10:32 AM IST: Captain Virat Kohli (19 off 41) and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (9 off 19) in the centre as India fight to save the match. The visitors still trail by 87 runs. IND - 113/3 (45) & 165; NZ - 348.
10:05 AM IST: WICKET! Brave review, but wasted one. Mayank Agarwal, who was ruled caught behind, almost walked back. But signalled the 'T' after a brief talk with Virat Kohli, and what? Faintest of spikes. He mad 58 off 99. Wicket to Tim Southee. India still trail by 87 runs. Virat Kohli unbeaten on 12 off 22. IND - 96/3 (38.4) & 165; NZ - 348
9:47 AM IST: Skipper Virat Kohli got into the act. Already hit two four as he raced to 12 off 10. Mayank Agarwal is on 54 off 89. India still trail by 91 runs. IND - 92/2 (35) & 165; NZ - 348.
9:16 AM IST: What a way to get out off the last ball of the session. Cheteshwar Pujara (11 off 81) left the ball and it hit the off stump. Both the wickets in the innings to Trent Boult. And tea. Virat Kohli will join Mayank Agarwal (52 off 81) after the break. India still trail by 105 runs. IND - 78/2 (32) & 165; NZ - 348.
9:01 AM IST: Fifty for Mayank Agarwal with a four (51 off 75, 6x4s, 1x6).
8:54 AM IST: Mayank Agarwal (47 off 73) hit Ajaz Patel for a four and six in the 27th over. He is three runs from a fifty. With Cheteshwar Pujara ( 6 off 59), he has added 41 in 116 runs for the second wicket. India still trail by 115 runs, IND - 68/1 (27) & 165; NZ - 348.
8:35 AM IST: India still need runs to make New Zealand bat again in the match. Mayank Agarwal ( 33 off 55) and Cheteshwar Pujara ( 6 off 47) added 27 runs for the second wicket. IND - 54/1 (22) & 165; NZ - 348.
8:00 AM IST: Mayank Agarwal (19 off 34) and Cheteshwar Pujara (3 off 26) rebuilding Indian innings after the fall of Prithvi Shaw. India's deficit - 147 runs. IND - 36/1 (15) & 165; NZ - 348.
7:28 AM IST: OUT! Prithvi Shaw gone for 14, caught by Tom Latham at square leg. Wicket for Trent Boult. IND - 27/1 (7.4) & 165; NZ - 348 (100.2).
Cheteshwar Pujara is the new man. He will give the company to Mayank Agarwal.
6:55 AM IST: Tim Southee to start the proceedings in India's second innings. Prithvi Shaw to face the first ball. Mayank Agarwal is his opening partner. Huge responsibilities on the shoulders of young openers.
6:26 AM IST: New Zealand were bowled out for 348 in their first innings in reply to India's below-par 165 at Lunch on the third day. Resuming at the overnight score of 216 for 5, New Zealand added 132 runs on the morning session. Skipper Kane Williamson top-scored for New Zealand with 89.
Ishant Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for India with figures of five for 68, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin scalped three wickets giving away 99 runs.
New Zealand, thus, took 183 runs lead over India in the first innings.
Brief Score:
India 1st Innings: 165 all out in 68.1 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 46; Kyle Jamieson 4/39).
New Zealand 1st Innings: 348 all out in 100.2 overs (Kane Williamson 89, Ross Taylor 44, Kyle Jamieson 44; Ishant Sharma 5/68, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/99).
6:17 AM IST: WICKET! Ishant Sharma gets a fifer. Trent Boult (38 off 24), caught behind. New Zealand take a 183-run lead. NZ - 348 (100.2); IND - 165.
6:09 AM IST: Trent Boult is having a go at India. With the ninth wicket down, umpires allowed India to have eight more overs before the lunch, but...
Boult reached 31 off 20 four fours and a six. Ajaz Patel is on 4 off 16, and they have added 31 in 28. New Zealand lead by 176 runs. NZ - 341/9 (99)
5:52 AM IST: WICKET! Colin De Grandhomme walks (43 off 74). Third wicket for Ravichandran Ashwin. Caught behind. New Zealand lead by 145 runs. NZ - 310/9 (94.2); IND - 165.
Trent Boult is the last man.
5:36 AM IST: WICKET! Ravichandran Ashwin strikes. Kyle Jamieson (44 off 45) holed out at mid-on, caught by Hanuma Vihari. NZ - 296/8 (90.2); IND - 165.
Ajaz Patel, left-handed batsman, is the new man.
5:15 AM IST: Fifty-run (51 off 69) stand between Colin de Grandhomme (30 off 46) and Kyle Jamieson (27 off 31) as New Zealand's lead over India swell. It's 111 by the way. NZ - 276/7 (86).
Third day's play started with Jasprit Bumrah removing BJ Watling (14 off 30), caught behind, off the first ball, then Ishant Sharma getting his fourth, in the form of Tim Southee (6 off 13), caught by Mohammed Shami.
Thanks to 'veteran' war-horse Ishant Sharma, who took the first three New Zealand wickets on Saturday, India have got a window of opportunity in Wellington. After managing a meagre 165, India needed a valiant fightback to save the match. And Sharma has started it. Now, the rest of the touring party will need to stand up and fight the cause.
India were the early pacesetters in the inaugural ICC Test Championship, courtesy easy wins at home. But in just two days away from home, they are exposed. If they are to justify their numero uno status in Test cricket, and of course shed the tag of 'home bully', Virat Kohli & Co will need to come up with some serious performances against a confident New Zealand side.
What happened so far:
Day 1: India managed 122/5 in 55 overs with Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 38 and 10. Rain forced an early end to the play, which witnessed Kiwi debutant Kyle Jamieson rocking the famed Indian top-order.
Day 2: India were bowled out for 165 -- their lowest first innings score in the two years -- losing the remaining five wickets for 48 runs, including a messy run-out. Then, Ishant rose to the occasion. Then, there was Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson showing his silky class. New Zealand were 216 for five at stumps on Day 2, a lead of 51. But 10 wickets on an intriguing day of Test cricket, to set up a fascinating Day 3!
Playing XIs:
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult.
India: PlayingPrithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.