New Zealand give themselves a glimmer of victory over India
New Zealand give themselves a glimmer of victory on reserve day of rain-ruined World Test Championship final with India as three wickets fall… but will Tim Southee’s dropped catch off Rishabh Pant cost them?
- India reached lunch on 130 for five, a lead of 98 over New Zealand in the final
- Three wickets in the morning session have given Kiwis a sniff of victory
- Kyle Jamieson took the prize scalp of Virat Kohli, then got Cheteshwar Pujara
- Trent Boult then took the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane to leave India rattled
- But Rishabh Pant, dropped by Tim Southee, and Ravi Jadeja countered for India
- Match is in its sixth and reserve day after rain interrupted much of the contest
New Zealand took three wickets in the morning session to keep their hopes of beating India and winning the World Test Championship alive.
The match at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton has been spoiled by rain but we could yet see a result on what is the designated reserve day.
Kyle Jamieson struck to remove India captain Virat Kohli and then Cheteshwar Pujara in quick succession before Trent Boult got in on the act with the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane.
Kyle Jamieson of New Zealand celebrates with his team-mates after getting India’s Virat Kohli
Kohli was dismissed by Jamieson for 13 after India’s captain was deceived by the movement
Jamieson leaps in the air in celebration after taking the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara
India’s Pujara cuts a disappointed figure as he returns to the pavilion having made 15
BJ Watling celebrates with team-mates after New Zealand took the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane
That left India 130 for five at lunch and New Zealand could be left to rue Tim Southee dropping a regulation slip catch to remove Rishabh Pant, unbeaten on 28 at the interval.
In effect, India are 98 for five and a quick flurry of wickets immediately after lunch could yet deliver the inaugural championship to New Zealand.
With the flow of the final constantly interrupted by wash-out conditions, India were dismissed for 217 in their first innings before the Kiwis replied with 249.
Resuming their second innings on 64 for two overnight, India hoped to bat their opponents out of contention as the sun shone in Hampshire.
Tim Southee puts down a regulation catch in the slips after Rishabh Pant edged to him
Southee couldn’t believe what had happened as Pant received a reprieve early in his innings
It didn’t work out that way, with the prize wicket of Kohli falling to the pumped-up 6ft 8in bowler Jamieson for the second time in the match.
Kohli appeared to be done by the late away movement as he pushed towards the ball and the nick was easily snaffled by wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Two overs later and India were wobbling on 72 for four with Jamieson’s teasing line coaxing Pujara into hanging his bat out and edging to Ross Taylor at first slip to take a low catch.
That brought the flashing blade of Pant to the middle but it could so easily have proved a fleeting cameo. Pant was on just five when he edged Jamieson to Southee in the slips at a comfortable height.
Pant came out swinging as he attempted to bat New Zealand out of contention on the final day
New Zealand bowler Neil Wagner powers in as they sought quick Indian wickets on the last day
The shock drop proved to be an unexpected reprieve for India who would have been in deep trouble had it been taken.
A fifth wicket would fall prior to lunch, however, but it wasn’t the attacking Pant but Rahane, who’d made 15 before flicking through to Watling’s gloves behind the stumps.
Pant decided to take on Neil Wagner in particular, injecting excitement into the contest with his strokes after so much was lost to bad weather.
Pant and Ravindra Jadeja survived until lunch and another 10-15 overs of batting from the pair in the afternoon session could well steer India to a draw.
Indian fans in the stands at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton watch the action on day six
The sun finally shone on what was the reserve day of the World Test Championship final
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