India’s hopes of saving the 1st Test, let alone thinking about a win against New Zealand in Wellington hang by a thread after a dismal performance from the visitors on Sunday.
The biggest setback for India was another failure from captain Virat Kohli who is having a horror run with the bat in the ongoing tour of New Zealand. When his team needed him to step up and deliver with the bat, Kohli perished for 19 in the final session of Day 3, putting enormous pressure on the middle-order.
India reached 144 for 4 at Stumps on Sunday, still trailing New Zealand’s 1st innings total by 39 runs with 2 more days to go in what has been a one-sided Test so far at the Basin Reserve.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (25*) and Hanuma Vihari (15*) remained unbeaten after a 31-run stand for the 5th wicket to keep India’s hopes alive. Rahane, who top-scored with 46 in the 1st innings, looked fluent once again as he mixed caution with aggression wonderfully well towards the close of play.
India could not have asked for a better start to Day 3 as Jasprit Bumrah removed in-form New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling in the very 1st ball of the day. In the 4th over of the day, Ishant Sharma continued from where he left yesterday by removing Tim Southee who played an ordinary shot to depart for just 6.
India could not have asked for a better start to Day 3 as Jasprit Bumrah removed in-form New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling in the very 1st ball of the day. In the 4th over of the day, Ishant Sharma continued from where he left yesterday by removing Tim Southee who played an ordinary shot to depart for just 6.
At 225 for 7 early in the 1st session, it looked like India would mount a strong comeback and put pressure on New Zealand.
However, familiar problems returned to haunt India as they let the New Zealand tail wag, a bit too much. New Zealand added 123 runs for the last 3 wickets as Colin de Grandhomme played the anchor’s role and let debutant Kyle Jameison and Trent Boult go berserk.
De Grandhomme hit a composed 74-ball 43 as he held the New Zealand innings together after the quick dismissals of Watling and Southee on Day 3.
At the other end, debutant Kyle Jameison flaunted his batting prowess, hitting 44 in just 45 balls — a quickfire knock that had a boundary and 4 sixes.
Then came Trent Boult who had some fun at the middle. Hitting 5 boundaries and a six, the New Zealand tail-ender added 38 from just 24 balls to lift New Zealand to 348.
From what looked like they wouldn’t get more than a 100-run lead, New Zealand ended with a healthy 183-run lead.
Ishant Sharma, who was on top form on Saturday, added 2 more to his tally to pick up his 3rd 5-wicket haul in New Zealand, his 11th overall. Off-spinner R Ashwin removed De Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson.
