New Delhi: Tom Latham-led New Zealand scripted history in Bengaluru as they brought an end to a 36-year-long wait for a Test victory in India. New Zealand thrashed India by 8 wickets in the 1st Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. Will Young and Rachind Ravindra helped the Kiwis comfortably chase down the target of 107 runs in their second innings on Day 5 to wrap up a historic win.
India came searching for early wickets on Day 5 as New Zealand resumed their pursuit of the 107-run target in their second innings. Jasprit Bumrah did manage to ignite some hope for the hosts with a terrific spell with the new ball. Bumrah sent Kiwi skipper Tom Latham packing on a duck in his very first over before getting rid of his opening partner Devon Conway on 17.
Bumrah’s twin strikes reduced New Zealand to 35/2 but India failed to capitalise as Mohammed Siraj failed to create any pressure from the other end despite overcast conditions. The lack of a 3rd pacer hurt India badly as Ravindra and Young helped New Zealand cruise to victory with an unbeaten 75-run stand for the third wicket.
New Zealand managed to end their 36-year-long drought in India in Tests with a clinical victory in Bengaluru. The Kiwis last won a Test match in India in November 1988 when John Wright led them to a 136-run win against Dilip Vengsarkar-led hosts at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India had never lost a Test match against New Zealand at home since then. However, their unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday.
New Zealand made the most of the overcast conditions to bundle out India for a paltry 46 runs in their first innings before riding on Rachin’s brilliant ton to post a strong total of 402 runs on the board in their first innings. India staged a fantastic fightback in their second innings with the help of Sarfaraz Khan’s maiden Test ton and half-centuries from skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant.
However, the hosts suffered another mini collapse against the second new ball in their second innings to throw away the game after nearly getting into a commanding position. New Zealand managed to hold their nerves in their second innings to complete the run chase and pull off a historic maiden victory on Indian soil after 36 years.
Will Young steers the Kiwis to a famous victory 👏👏#IDFCFirstBankTestTrophy #JioCinemaSports #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/xMzgneAtib
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) October 20, 2024
The disastrous collapse
Riding high on confidence having clean-swept Bangladesh 2-0 in their last series at home, India headed into the first Test against New Zealand as favourites. However, the hosts were given a reality check by the Kiwi pacers in their first innings. Matt Henry and William ORourke ran riot with the new ball to bowl out India for 46 runs, their lowest-ever total at home in a Test match.
Amid overcast conditions, Henry and ORourke made the most of the movement on offer as they ripped through the Indian batting line-up with 9 wickets between them. Henry bagged a fifer while ORourke finished with figures of 4/12 as India suffered a new low in Tests. The Kiwis capitalised well on their stellar bowling effort with an equally good show with the bat.
Rachin played a fabulous knock of 134 runs while Devon Conway slammed a brilliant 91 as the duo guided the visitors to a big total of 402 runs in their second innings. There was little hope left for India after the Kiwis produced all-round show with the bat and ball to deflate the hosts’ momentum in the Test match.
India fightback in 2nd innings
However, India fought back well in their second innings to ignite some hope of a miraculous turnaround in the Test match. Skipper Rohit slammed 52 off 63 balls to set the tone before Kohli combined with Sarfaraz to add a 136-run stand for the second wicket. Kohli was dismissed on 70 on the final ball of India’s innings before stumps on Day 3.
Sarfaraz continued from where he had left on Day 4 and went on to notch up his maiden Test ton. The 26-year-old converted his maiden ton into 150 as he finished with 150 off 195 balls studded with 18 fours and 3 sixes. Sarfaraz combined with Pant to share a 177-run stand for the 4th wicket as the duo kept India in the hunt on Day 4.
Pant missed out on a well-deserved hundred after getting dismissed on 99 but did well to help India finish with 462 runs in their second innings, setting up a 107-run target for New Zealand. The lead of 106 runs eventually didn’t prove enough for India as New Zealand nailed down the target with ease to secure a thumping victory.
India will aim to bounce back and level the three-match series 1-1 when the two teams lock horns in the 2nd Test at the MCA Stadium in Pune starting Thursday, October 24.
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