A robust and unbroken partnership of 75 runs between Will Young (48*) and Rachin Ravindra (39*) propelled New Zealand to an eight-wicket victory in a challenging run chase of 107 on the fifth day of the first Test against India in Bengaluru. It was particularly significant for New Zealand that Ravindra was present at the crease during this historic achievement. After a lengthy wait of 36 years, the Black Caps finally secured a Test match victory in India, with the left-handed batsman playing a pivotal role in the outcome.
India's dismal batting performance in the first innings
The absence of a third seamer is likely to become a significant topic of discussion, and Rohit Sharma’s choice to bat on the second day may also be a decision that India comes to regret. New Zealand’s bowlers delivered a devastating performance under advantageous conditions, dismissing India for a meager total of 46 runs. With overcast skies and a moist pitch to their advantage, Matt Henry (5-15) and William O’Rourke (4-22) attacked the Indian batting order with vigor, which displayed a lack of resilience. While some dismissals were due to challenging deliveries, several others were the result of unforced errors, as New Zealand maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings.
Conway experienced a minor setback in the second innings; however, it was his aggressive knock of 91 in the first innings that significantly contributed to New Zealand’s position. Although the left-handed batsman faced several challenges during his innings, he adeptly navigated these difficulties and struck numerous boundaries. India, for a brief period, managed to mount a comeback, reducing New Zealand to 233/7 after the visitors had established a strong start at 142/1. The home team aimed to minimize their first innings deficit, but Ravindra’s impressive score of 134, marking his second Test century, ultimately undermined the efforts of the Indian bowlers.
The young left-handed batsman adeptly navigated both pace and spin, demonstrating a commendable versatility against slower bowlers by aggressively taking them on. Ravindra’s aggressive play was well complemented by Tim Southee, who contributed 65 runs, as they forged a pivotal partnership of 137 runs. This collaboration significantly diminished India’s prospects of mounting a robust comeback. Among the various key moments in the Test match, this segment of play was crucial to New Zealand’s eventual victory. Ravichandran Ashwin had a disappointing performance, with the exception of dismissing Conway, while Jadeja and Kuldeep showed effectiveness only intermittently. New Zealand ultimately ended with a massive first innings lead of 356 – the kind of figure that effectively pushes the opposition to a point of no return.
India's comeback in the second innings goes in vain
India demonstrated resilience in their second innings, showcasing a significantly improved performance. This was largely attributed to an outstanding century by Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 150 runs, complemented by notable contributions from Rishabh Pant with 99 runs and Virat Kohli with 70 runs. Rohit Sharma initiated the innings with an aggressive fifty, scoring 52 runs, while the majority of India’s top five batsmen settled in well and displayed a determined approach at the crease.
Kohli and Sarfaraz contributed significantly to the innings by forming a partnership of 136 runs for the third wicket, setting India on a favorable path. However, it was the remarkable 177-run collaboration between Sarfaraz and Pant that truly propelled the home team towards the prospect of an extraordinary victory. The home side benefited from a brisk scoring rate of nearly five runs per over, which advanced the game considerably. With a score of 408/3 and a lead of 52 runs, Rohit’s team appeared to have seized the momentum, as a well-established Sarfaraz and Pant skillfully navigated the bowlers.
That’s when New Zealand got a lifeline in the form of the second new ball. And like on the second morning of the game, their pacers once again came to life in a critical passage of play. Southee was the one who disrupted the partnership by dismissing Sarfaraz, but O’Rourke (3-92) and Henry (3-102) subsequently penetrated the middle and lower order, swiftly concluding India’s innings. The final seven wickets fell for a mere 54 runs, as India squandered a prime opportunity for a historic victory. The New Zealand seamers exploited seam movement and variable bounce, which the Indian middle and lower order struggled to counter. Ravindra Jadeja experienced an unusual poor performance with the bat in Tests, while KL Rahul’s inconsistency persisted. With a target of 107 runs to secure the match, the question was whether New Zealand could maintain their composure, and indeed, they succeeded.
In the second innings, the visitors were unable to retain their captain, Tom Latham, who was dismissed for a duck in the opening over of the day by Jasprit Bumrah (2-29), who delivered a formidable new-ball performance. Devon Conway struggled through his innings, managing only 17 runs off 39 balls before succumbing to Bumrah’s bowling. Although the target of 107 appeared to be insufficient, particularly given the difficult conditions of the pitch, Bumrah’s impressive spell provided India with a ray of optimism.
Young and Ravindra swiftly quelled that momentum. Young began his innings with confidence, displaying fluency even against the new ball. Ravindra continued from his previous performance, hitting a couple of boundaries within his first three deliveries to maintain the team’s momentum. The duo quickly settled into their rhythm, ensuring the task was completed efficiently. Similar to the first innings, India notably lacked a third pace bowler to sustain the pressure. Aside from the rough patch outside the left-hander’s off stump, the spinners had limited opportunities, allowing New Zealand to secure a comfortable victory.
After 36 long years, the Black Caps had managed to win a Test match in India and the left-hander was critical to the result. India would rue their selection blunders but they still had the chance to make a fightback at multiple points in the game. ORourke and Henry had a dream game on sub-continental soil with seven and eight wickets in the game respectively. Their spells, especially on the second day were match-sealing.
Scorecard: India 46 and 462 (Sarfaraz Khan 150, Rishabh Pant 99; William O’Rourke 3-92, Matt Henry 3-102) lost to New Zealand 402 (Rachin Ravindra 134, Devon Conway 91; Ravindra Jadeja 3-72) & 107/2 (Will Young 48*, Rachin Ravindra 39*; Jasprit Bumrah 2-29) by eight wickets.
