KANPUR: New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra played a determined innings against India in the closing session of day five to help his team avoid defeat in the first test here on Monday.
With a 284-run target in mind, the Kiwi batters resumed their innings on the final day of the test with an overnight score of 4/1. Tom Latham (2*) and William Somerville (0*) gave the side a solid start, adding 76 runs to the team total before Somerville was dismissed by Umesh Yadav on 36. Kane Williamson walked out to bat and began to neutralize the situation; he played a gritty innings and began to build a partnership with Latham. But, just as things were looking up for the Black Caps, they lost their opener, Latham, for 52 runs after being bowled out by Ravichandran Ashwin with 118 runs on the board.
Williamson appeared to be in great shape at one end, but wickets were falling at an alarming rate at the other. Williamson, too, fell short and was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja on 24 (112). As a result, the team’s seven wickets were lost for only 37 runs, and the scoreboard read 155/9. Rachin and Ajaz, on the other hand, delivered gritty knocks to keep their team from losing in the first. Rachin faced 91 balls and scored 18 runs without being out. Ajaz, on the other hand, scored 2 off 23.
The Indian bowlers did a pretty good job of triggering a collapse in the New Zealand batting order, but they were unable to take the final wicket. Jadeja was their standout bowler in the second innings, taking four wickets, including the crucial wicket of Williamson. Ashwin, on the other hand, was equally impressive, taking three wickets for 35 runs. Yadav and Axar Patel both took a wicket.
India’s Shreyas Iyer, however, was declared player of the match for his magnificent 105 runs in the first and 65 in the second.
The second and final test between India and New Zealand will be started from 3rd December at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
