Sarfaraz smashes ton as India just 12 runs behind at lunch following another aggressive session with the bat.
Sarfaraz Khan got to his maiden test ton and Rishabh Pant added a 50 of his own as India continued where they left from yesterday.
In the 22 overs that were available before lunch, Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant scored 113 unbroken runs. This continued India’s astonishing comeback from 46 all out. With seven wickets remaining and a mere 12-run deficit against New Zealand, India had a thrilling chance to bowl last to batters under duress.
When combined, the two posed a serious threat to Captain Tom Latham. They were careless with the field-sets, unafraid to make errors. Once more the bowlers from New Zealand gave Latham little leverage. Ajaz Patel was the biggest letdown of the session; he spun the ball less than part-timer Rachin Ravindra, who bowled just one over before the rain called off play.
India’s strategy of instantly counterattacking after wickets on day three was going to be tested, as they lost Virat Kohli to the final ball of the day’s play. It only took Sarfaraz six balls to regain his cheekiness, a carefree ramp off of the first ball of the day for Will O’Rourke.
Seam bowlers appeared to be trying to trap Sarfaraz leg before wicket. All they were able to do was give him leg side easy singles. Pant anchored to the crease when the keeper approached the stumps, giving the visitors a chance. But there wasn’t enough left in the dying pitch for it to matter. After he sent all the fielders back with his late-cuts, Sarfaraz smacked Southee to deep cover in the eighth over of the day, which would have been a single for any other batter. The border evoked a hundred strong emotions.
Pant was just getting warmed up. Ajaz managed to get one to kick at him from the rough. But the ball fell straight down since the glove took up most of the blow. At that moment, he saw he had to attack and lofted Southee inside his crease for a clean six. He scored two sixes in a thrilling Ajaz over to surpass Kapil Dev’s record of 61 sixes. He is presently only five Indian men ahead of him.
The only other player who could give New Zealand any sort of control was Glenn Phillips. But even he bowled a full ball to get Pant to his half-century. In 22 overs, New Zealand only made 25 errors, which is not very well given their aggressive strategy.
The rain came as a relief for New Zealand half an hour before the scheduled lunch break. Lunch was eventually taken at 11.20am, ten minutes before usual.