BENGALURU, India (AP) — Mohammad Kaif has lauded Sarfaraz Khan for scoring his maiden Test hundred in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand. Sarfaraz Khan scored 150 and helped India surpass the Kiwis’ 356-run lead. Rishabh Pant was dismissed after scoring 99.
New Zealand scored 402 runs in its first innings, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 134 runs, taking a lead of 356 runs. India had lost Virat Kohli for 70 runs on the last ball of day three and began from its overnight score of 231-3.
Coming into the second test as a replacement for injured Shubman Gill, Khan achieved his maiden hundred in only the fourth test. He hit 18 fours and 3 sixes in his knock.
“I have always maintained Sarfraz shouldn’t be kept out because of fitness. He doesn’t have a gym body but can bat for hours. Cricket is a game that accomodates all.”
But Bengaluru’s weather intervened—the fourth day began under a dark sky with the constant threat of rain, which arrived shortly before the scheduled lunch break. Rain washed out all play on Wednesday, the first day.
India were bowled out for 462 runs, giving the visiting team a target of 107 runs. William O’Rourke and Matt Henry took three wickets each and put the home team on the back foot with the second new ball.
India lead the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but assure its spot for the final at Lord’s next June. India recently beat Bangladesh 2-0.
New Zealand have already been on a long subcontinental tour. It began with a washed-out test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka.
The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting next Thursday, and the final one will be played in Mumbai starting Nov. 1.
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