‘Every run out there counts’ as India brace themselves for a fight against New Zealand to avoid a home whitewash.
‘Every run out there counts’ is what both teams will be thinking as they take the field for the third day of this riveting test.
The exciting conclusion of a see-sawing Test match in Mumbai is drawing near under challenging batting conditions. With a lead of 143, New Zealand is already very close to the greatest number ever successfully chased down at Wankhede Stadium. India is aware that they are up against a tough opponent and is already focused on capturing the final wicket as soon as feasible.
“Any run saved in this innings is going to be much more when we chase it down,” R Ashwin told the host broadcaster on Saturday. “It’s not going to be easy. We’ll have to bat really well to get this score.”
On a pitch that has yielded 16 single-figure scores and inspires optimism that one wicket could bring a whole bunch, Ajaz Patel, who picked up a five-for to go with his 10-for in 2021, is still out there batting and knows that whatever he can scrape together with No. 11 Will O’Rourke could be telling.
“It’s really important, every run out there counts and I guess I’m still at the crease now so my job is to try and put 10, 15, 20 whatever I can on the board because I know that getting those 10, 15, 20 could be hard work at the back end of that other innings.”
Ajaz also pointed out another trend that’s been seen over the course of this Test match. “I think if we have seen the pattern in terms of the wicket. I guess, over the last couple of days, in the morning it probably doesn’t do as much as the afternoon.”
There were three wickets in the first session of day one, and 11 thereafter. Similarly, there was one wicket in the morning on day two and 14 thereafter.
“Whether that’s due to the rolling or whether that’s due to the heat and the wicket drying up throughout the day, I’m unsure,” Ajaz said. “So it’ll be interesting to see how that wicket plays tomorrow morning. Whether it kind of reacts the same way or whether it’s a little bit different. So yeah it’s certainly I guess in the morning if it’s not doing as much. Trying to bat as long as possible so that we can wait for it to dry and start turning again.”
India are backing themselves to get it. No matter what the target in front of them.
“I mean it’s all about one good partnership.” Shubman Gill, who top-scored for them in the first innings with 90 off 146, said. “When you are chasing the total which is around 150-160, if you have one good partnership of 70-80 runs. The match is done and dusted. So that’s what the conversation will be among the batters, to have one good partnership.
“And then when you know, even for the fielding team. Once there is a 70-80 run partnership, even when we saw today. Then when you are chasing 150, the body language of the opposition also drops.”