Updated: Oct 20
IND vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 3 Highlights: Rachin Ravindra’s quick-fire 134 takes New Zealand’s lead 350+. India trail by 125 runs at the stumps on Day 3.
Brief Score: IND 46 (R. Pant 20, M. Henry 5/15) & 231/3 (S. Khan 70, A. Patel 2/70) trail NZ 402 (R. Ravindra 134, R. Jadeja 3/72) by 125 runs.
Rachin Ravindra’s brilliant century gave New Zealand a 356-run lead. However, India clawed back into the game courtesy of fifties from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Sarfaraz Khan in the second innings. India are still 125 runs behind with seven wickets in hand. Meanwhile, batting stalwart Virat Kohli completed his 9000 runs in Test cricket during India’s second innings and became the fourth India player to achieve the feat.
Talking Point: New Zealand batters make most out of batting conditions
New Zealand displayed a remarkable performance with the bat. Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee capitalised on the batting conditions fantastically to seize control of the game. They showed great composure and skill, ultimately shifting the game’s momentum. The duo left no stone unturned to take New Zealand ahead in the game and build a strong lead. The lack of assistance for the bowlers on Day 3 put pressure on the India team to contain the New Zealand batters, leading to a dominant display by the visitors. The strong batting performance from Ravindra and Southee put them way ahead of India in the game.
Read More: IND vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 2: NZ takes credible lead after skittling out India for 46
Ravindra-Southee carnage flattens India, New Zealand lead by 299 at lunch
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah got the early wickets that India were searching for on Day 3. Ravindra Jadeja then chipped in with a double strike to pull things back in control. Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee launched a stunning assault in the second half of the first session. The duo was comfortably dominating India bowlers, taking New Zealand ahead in the game.
The visitors smashed as many 165 runs in the first session with the partnership between Ravindra and Southee standing at 112 off just 97 balls. Ravindra reached 104 not out from 125 balls with 11 fours and two sixes while Tim Southee was not out on 49. The Kiwis finished the session with a lead of 299 as the scoreboard read 345/7 at lunch.
Rohit, Jaiswal make watchful start as India reach 57/0 at tea
India managed to dismiss New Zealand for 402 runs earlier in the second session. The hosts managed to draw more average swing – 1.6 degree to New Zealand’s 1 degree. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja scalped three wickets each. Mohammed Siraj scalped two while Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin took one wicket each.
Rachin Ravindra scored 134 while Devon Conway hammered 91 runs. Apart from them, Tim Southee chipped in with 65 runs. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal got India off to a steady start in the second innings as they looked to go past the mammoth lead of 356. India were 57/0 at Tea, trailing New Zealand by 299 runs.
Kohli, Sarfaraz fifties lead India’s fightback, reach 231/3 at stumps
Virat Kohli hit his 31st Test half-century in the final session on Day 3, and first since December 26, 2023. Kohli’s previous Test half-century came in the Centurion, where he hit 76 against South Africa in the Boxing-Day Test. Sarfaraz Khan also scored a sublime half-century and stayed unbeaten at the crease. However, right off the final ball of the day New Zealand spinner Glenn Phillips dismissed Kohli to dent India at 231/3, still trailing by 125 runs at stumps on Day 3.
Statistical highlights from India vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 3
- Jasprit Bumrah now has the most Test wickets in the calendar year 2024 (39).
- Rachin Ravindra registered his fifth 50+ score in Test cricket, his first against India.
- Rachin Ravindra scored his second Test hundred, his first against India.
- Tim Southee has surpassed the sixes tally of Virendra Sehwag in Tests. He has now hit the sixth-most sixes in the longest format.
- The 137-run stand between Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee is New Zealand’s joint-highest eighth wicket partnership againstÂ
- Rachin Ravindra becomes the first Kiwi batter to score a Test hundred in India in 12 years.
- The eighth wicket stand of 137 between Ravindra & Southee is the second-fastest partnership ever for any wicket against India in Tests.
- The eighth wicket stand of 137 runs between Ravindra & Southee is the second-highest for an eighth wicket or lower against India in India in Tests.
- NZ’s lead of 356 is the third-highest for a visiting team batting second in a Test in India.
- Ajaz Patel has 19 wickets against India in Tests. It is the joint third-highest wickets for a NZ spinner against India in Tests.
- Virat Kohli is now the fourth India batter (18th overall) to reach 9,000 Test runs.
What’s next
Sarfaraz Khan will be at the crease to start the day for India. The hosts will look to bat as long as they can on Day 4 and ensure they have enough runs to defend and put pressure on New Zealand. The home team would love to see Sarfaraz reaching big with support from the other end. Meanwhile, the visiting team will try to put on another decent show with the ball.
Read More: Pujara is India’s leading run-scorer in Tests against Australia since 2017: BGT 2024-25 calling?
