NZ close in on Test win on Indian soil after 36 years despite Sarfaraz, Pant heroics

Bengaluru, Oct 19: Sarfaraz Khan's maiden century and Rishabh Pant's cavalier 99 is unlikely to prevent New Zealand from earning their first-ever Test match victory on Indian soil in 36 years with only 107 runs to get on the final day of an intriguing start-stop series opener.

Tom Latham (0) and Devon Conway (0) were at crease when bad light and later rain forced early stumps on fourth evening.

The last time New Zealand won a Test match in India was way back in 1989 when Sir Richard Hadlee was still an active Test cricketer and got 10 wickets at the Wankhede to ensure a huge 136-run win.

Tom Latham's team is on cusp of history despite a gallant fightback from India to score 462 in their second innings largely due to Sarfaraz continuing his happy knack of notching up 'Daddy Hundreds' from first-class to Test arena with a brilliant 150 off 195 balls and a stand of 177 with a half-fit Rishabh Pant, who missed his seventh Test hundred by a solitary run.

Once the second new ball was was taken, India lost seven wickets for 54 runs with tall gast bowlers Matt Henry and William O'Rourke getting extra bounce and movement off the Chinnaswamy surface. After all, India were 52 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand. But Latham taking the new ball on the first available opportunity turned the tide in New Zealand’s favour.

At that point, hopes were high of a miracle triumph similar to Kolkata 2001 with both Sarfaraz and Pant at the crease.

The first one to perish was Sarfaraz, who spooned Tim Southee to Ajaz Patel at covers and Pant followed soon, dragging William O’Rourke (3/92) on to his stumps.

It was his seventh dismissal in 90s in Test cricket, and he will certainly rue it after doing all the hard work till then.

Henry (3/102), who took five wickets in the first innings, looked pedestrian till then regained his mojo and movement with the new ball, mopped India’s tail with the wickets of Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.