A solid unbeaten 75-run stand between Will Young (48*) and Rachin Ravindra (39*) saw New Zealand through to an eight-wicket win in the tricky run chase of 107 on the fifth day of the opening Test against India in Bengaluru. Rachin Ravindra is the Player of the Match for his outstanding knocks with the bat in both innings.
Rachin Ravindra scored 173 runs in total. New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra believes his Indian roots and experience in subcontinental conditions played a pivotal role in his standout performance against India in the Bengaluru Test. New Zealand recorded their first Test victory on Indian soil after 36 years, beating the hosts by eight wickets on the fifth and final day of the opening encounter in Bengaluru
New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra credited his Indian heritage and extensive experience of playing in Indian conditions for his success against India’s spin attack in the Bengaluru Test win. Ravindra put on a memorable performance, scoring a first-innings century and an unbeaten 39 during New Zealand’s tense chase, helping the Kiwis clinch their first Test win on Indian soil since 1988.
Pitch and Toss
Pitch report: The outfield is simply superb. Great drainage. No reminiscence at all that it rained. It has been under the covers, which means it has a lot of dampness. It is quite cold when you touch it. When you touch it, it is slightly harder and it is dry underneath. New ball could nip around early on and the spinners could get some help as well – opine Simon Doull and Murali Kartik
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and surprisingly under dark overcast conditions with the pitch covered over a day chose to bat with two changes in the playing XI having replaced Shubman Gill and Akash Deep with Sarfaraz Khan and Kuldeep Yadav. New Zealand skipper Tom Latham who interestingly also wanted to bat first played with three seamers and a lone spinner in the playing XI . Day 1 was completely washed of in the Bengaluru test but worst was to come for India when played began on Day 2
Day 2 : NZ in box seat after Henry, O’Rourke skittle India out for 46
A dogged half-century from Devon Conway (91) complemented New Zealand’s excellent bowling display led by Matt Henry (5-15) and William O’Rourke (4-22) as the visitors bossed the second day of the first Test against India in Bengaluru. The tempo was set by the pacers as Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat at the toss backfired.
Overhead conditions and a damp surface were the ideal foil for the Black Caps pacers who felt at ease as they exploited the conditions to good effect. The initial 30 minutes were frustrating for the visitors as they beat the bat regularly but weren’t rewarded with a wicket.
Eventually, Tim Southee broke through with a cracking nipbacker to castle Rohit Sharma and it started a procession that never stopped for India. O’Rourke then took over along with Henry to make a mockery of India’s batters. The former, fresh off an impressive series in Sri Lanka, relished the favorable conditions on offer to nip out Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan for ducks. Kohli, who moved up to No.3, fell to a lifter that he gloved to leg slip, Sarfaraz was guilty of a poor shot that was brilliantly taken one-handed by Conway at mid-off.
New Zealand’s catching was arguably as good as their seam bowling, if not better and that is saying something, given what the quicks dished out. KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin all registered ducks with the ball continuing to nip around appreciably.
Rishabh Pant led a charmed life and was also dropped once before he eventually ran out of luck. Henry and O’Rourke ensured that India’s trademark lower order defiance in home conditions never came to the fore as they sliced through the batting line-up. It’s another matter, though, that the conditions were anything but ‘home’ like.
Unfortunately for the home side, their mediocre batting effort, the lowest team score in Asia by any side, meant that the bowlers had too much pressure to deal with. The pacers tried a lot too quickly with the new ball and even Bumrah appeared off-color at times. As the day progressed, the spinners managed to gain control as each of them picked up a wicket apiece. Kuldeep Yadav broke the 67-run opening stand by trapping Latham (33) LBW after a successful review. Will Young (33) then dug in and his 75-run stand put New Zealand well into the lead.
Just when it seemed like New Zealand were going great guns, Ashwin and Jadeja struck late in the day. The latter induced a top-edge off Young’s slog sweep and Ashwin then picked up the big wicket of Conway off the first ball of his new spell to give India some momentum.
The hosts would have loved to get another wicket or two before stumps but Rachin Ravindra along with Daryl Mitchell prevented further damage with a solid unbroken partnership. The left-hander continued from his impressive Sri Lanka tour where he handled the spinners impressively.
Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell were proactive at the crease, and ensured that the scoring rate didn’t dip considerably. It helped that Conway’s counterattacking knock earlier on had already pushed the tourists into the driving seat. The lead is now 134 and New Zealand would want to add another 100 runs at least, as batting could get really difficult in the fourth innings at this venue.
It means that the first two sessions on the third day will be paramount, weather permitting. The forecast for the next days is dicey but there should be enough passages of play to keep the game moving forward.
Day 3 :Rachin Ravindra’s Blazing Ton Gives New Zealand an advantage as India staged epic comeback
The third day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a thrill-a-minute ride as 453 runs were scored and 10 wickets also fell. At the end of it all, New Zealand continued to be in the ascendency but India have produced a strong aggressive second innings performance thus far.
The hosts went at a rapid rate of 4.71 runs-per-over in the 49 overs that they faced, cutting down the massive first innings deficit of 356 to 125. With seven wickets left and two days to play, India’s chances in the game have significantly increased, although the Black Caps continue to be in the box seat, especially with the big wicket of Virat Kohli (70) off the last ball of the day.
Rohit Sharma’s 63-ball 52 set the tone for India’s second innings riposte as the Indian captain put on a 72-run opening stand with Yashaswi Jaiswal (35). The left-hander, though, wasn’t at his fluent best and eventually perished while trying to take on the favorable match-up of Ajaz Patel’s left-arm spin. That breakthrough, against the run of play, then produced another bizarre dismissal.
Rohit, who was batting very fluently, got a bottom-edge that rolled nonchalantly onto the stumps, almost in slow-motion. It left him shocked and the double strike gave New Zealand strong momentum to push for a few more wickets.
Kohli wasn’t far behind as he took on the spinners with elan and the pair’s 136-run stand came at a rollicking pace. Both batters looked set to end the day together but it wasn’t to be. Glenn Phillips had created a chance against Kohli few overs before stumps, only for Ajaz to shell the opportunity at first slip. The off-spinner eventually had the last laugh as he got the batter nicking to ensure that New Zealand ended the day on a high.
Despite India’s aggressive batting show, the day belonged to Rachin Ravindra (134) whose second Test ton ensured that the visitors had a massive first-innings total. Continuing from his impressive outing in Sri Lanka, Rachin Ravindra looked unfazed against spin and pace, tackling both with aplomb.
Even as wickets fell around him, he along with Tim Southee (65) thwarted India’s plans of wrapping up New Zealand’s innings quickly in the morning. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja bowled with purpose in the first hour of the day but once the Rachin Ravindra-Southee onslaught started, there was no respite for the hosts.
Rachin Ravindra’s knock was chance less and India’s only real opportunity at getting him came when he was on 110. However, that LBW call off Kuldeep Yadav wasn’t reviewed by India. The left-hander went on to smash another 24 runs and New Zealand amassed 169 runs with their last three wickets to dent India. The deficit of 356 was daunting but India have done well to stay in the hunt, although they would have been happier if Kohli had managed to see the day through. The game is set up nicely for a potentially pulsating fourth day.
Day 4 : Sarfaraz-Pant show followed by collapse leave NZ a target of 107
However, the introduction of the second new-ball changed the complexion of the contest. Sarfaraz went chasing the first delivery by Tim Southee and even as he missed the outswinger, he didn’t hold back in looking for runs thereafter. One of those shots, a drive on the up to covers brought about his downfall. Even Pant was continuing in his aggressive spree, including going on his knees and slog sweeping Southee for a 107-meter six.
However, his innings was brought to an end by O’Rourke who operated with much more threatening lines and lengths and put his extra pace and bounce to better use. Pant, batting on 99, played one back onto his stumps allowing New Zealand to run through the rest of the line-up.
KL Rahul edged one to the ‘keeper at the stroke of Tea and Ravindra Jadeja departed early in the third session, chipping a pull shot off the toe end of his bat to Will Young. Henry then ran through the tail, trapping R Ashwin leg before, inducing an outside edge to the ‘keeper to dismiss Bumrah and having Siraj caught at mid on.
The lowest target defended successfully by India in Tests is 107 against Australia at Wankhede in 2004. However, the Chinnaswamy pitch is unlikely to be as friendly to the spinners. Rain has played its part throughout the Test, and scattered thunderstorms are predicted for Sunday. With a low total to defend and weather likely to play a part, the Bengaluru Test is heading towards an intriguing climax.
Day 5 : Rachin Ravindra headlines NZ’s first Test win in India since 1988
A solid unbeaten 75-run stand between Will Young (48*) and Rachin Ravindra (39*) saw New Zealand through to an eight-wicket win in the tricky run chase of 107 on the fifth day of the opening Test against India in Bengaluru.
The visitors lost their skipper Tom Latham for a duck in the first over of the day off Jasprit Bumrah (2-29) who bowled a menacing new-ball spell. Devon Conway huffed and puffed his way to a labored 39-ball 17 before falling prey to Bumrah. While the target of 107 seemed quite below par even with the challenging nature of the pitch, Bumrah’s spell gave India a glimmer of hope.
That, however, was quickly extinguished by Young and Rachin Ravindra. The former started fluently and looked assured even against the new ball. Rachin Ravindra carried on from where he had left in the first innings and struck a couple of boundaries in his first three balls to keep the momentum going.
The pair quickly got into their work and ensured the job was done in a jiffy. Much like the first innings, India sorely missed a third pacer to keep the intensity going. Apart from the rough outside the left-hander’s off stump, there wasn’t much for the spinners to work with and New Zealand eventually coasted home.
If missing a third seamer will now be a major talking point, Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat on the second day will also be something that India will regret. New Zealand’s bowlers landed a killer blow under favorable conditions by shooting India out for a paltry total of 46.
With cloud cover and a damp pitch to exploit, Matt Henry (5-15) and William O’Rourke (4-22) came out all guns blazing against the Indian batting line-up that lacked application. Some of the dismissals were to tricky deliveries but there were also quite a few soft dismissals as New Zealand relentlessly kept the pressure on.
Conway did have a horror little knock in the second innings but it was his counterattacking innings of 91 that set New Zealand up in the first innings. The left-hander did have his share of struggles even at that point but found ways to deal with the challenges and also peppered the fence with a plethora of boundaries.
India, however, briefly managed to fight back as they reduced New Zealand to 233/7 after the visitors had initially gotten themselves to 142/1. The home side would have hoped to limit the first innings deficit but Rachin Ravindra (134) conjured up his second Test ton to deflate the Indian bowlers.
The young left-hander handled pace and spin with elan, and showed an impressive range against the slower bowlers by taking them on. Rachin Ravindra’s onslaught got good support from Tim Southee (65) as they put on a match-defining partnership of 137. India’s realistic chances of staging a strong fightback were thwarted by this stand.
Among the several major plot points in the Test match, this phase of play was also critical to New Zealand’s eventual win. Ravichandran Ashwin had a forgettable game barring the dismissal of Conway while Jadeja and Kuldeep were effective only in patches.
New Zealand ultimately ended with a massive first innings lead of 356 – the kind of figure that effectively pushes the opposition to a point of no return. However, India didn’t go down without a fight as they put up a much stronger second innings effort thanks to a stupendous ton from Sarfaraz Khan (150) alongside strong contributions from Rishabh Pant (99) and Virat Kohli (70). Rohit (52) set the tone early with an attacking fifty and most of India’s top five batters got their eye in, and batted with high intent.
Kohli and Sarfaraz added 136 for the third wicket to put India on track but it was the 177-run stand between Sarfaraz and Pant that really pushed the home side towards hoping for a miraculous win. It helped the home side that their rapid scoring rate of close to five-runs-per-over had pushed the game forward considerably.
At 408/3 with a lead of 52, Rohit’s men seemed to have the momentum with a well-set Sarfaraz and Pant toying with the bowlers. That’s when New Zealand got a lifeline in the form of the second new ball. And like on the second morning of the game, their pacers once again came to life in a critical passage of play.
It was Southee who broke the partnership by castling Sarfaraz but O’Rourke (3-92) and Henry (3-102) then sliced through the middle and lower order to wrap India’s innings up in a flash. The last seven wickets fell for just 54 runs as India let slip a golden opportunity of creating a historic win.
The NZ seamers got seam movement and variable bounce to which India’s middle and lower order had no answers. Ravindra Jadeja had a rare bad game with the bat in Tests while KL Rahul’s inconsistent run continued. With a target of 107 to win the game, it was about whether New Zealand could hold their nerves or not. And that, they did.
It was fitting for New Zealand that Ravindra was at the crease during the historic moment. After 36 long years, the Black Caps had managed to win a Test match in India and the left-hander was critical to the result. India would rue their selection blunders but they still had the chance to make a fightback at multiple points in the game. O’Rourke and Henry had a dream game on sub-continental soil with seven and eight wickets in the game respectively. Their spells, especially on the second day were match-sealing.
The exhilarating Bengaluru Test got the climax it deserved, with New Zealand made to work hard to complete their first Test win in India in 36 years. Under overcast skies, the ball seamed around appreciably, Jasprit Bumrah threatened to take a wicket every second delivery, and the crowd appealed almost every ball, but New Zealand absorbed it all to ease their way to the target of 107 once things settled down a touch.
Will Young was the calming influence after Bumrah got Tom Latham second ball of the day, but Devon Conway did his bit – jumping around, wearing blows on the body, but not playing loose shots. By the time Bumrah finally got Conway for 17 off 39 balls, he was at the fag end of his spell and New Zealand had scored 35 already. The fielders did their bit, having saved at least 11 runs by then.
But once again India’s misreading of the pitch came back to hurt them. They didn’t have a third seamer to exploit the conditions, and Young and Rachin Ravindra knocked off the remaining runs with relative ease.
While Bumrah bowled, though, you struggled to see where the next run would come from. He drew 22 false shots in eight overs, consistently drawing movement off the surface. Latham might have thought he had the accurate inswinger covered, but the ball pitched and nipped in even further to get him. Conway thought he had the angle covered from around the wicket, but this one swung after pitching, beginning to change its path halfway between pitching and reaching Conway, beating the outside edge and trapping him in front.
Bumrah was in his seventh over now, and Rachin Ravindra, the first-innings centurion, all but sealed the deal when he got two boundaries off the first three balls he faced. He steered the first one behind square, and then got the rare loose ball from Bumrah – a full one on the pads.
Young then paddled and punched Ravindra Jadeja for boundaries in his first over to get the package ready. Not trusting the Bengaluru weather to hold up after lunch, the two batters attacked the spinners to put a nice little bow on the top. Young’s drop-kicked six off Kuldeep Yadav was even Mark Waugh-like.
India made a remarkable comeback from being bowled out for 46 in the first innings, but in the end, New Zealand hung in long enough to seal only their third Test win in India and their first since 1988.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Rohit Sharma the losing Indian skipper said : It was a good effort with the bat in the second innings. We didn’t bat well in the first innings. So knew what was ahead and couple of guys stood out. When you are 350 behind you can’t think too much about it. just got to see the ball and bat. Couple of partnerships were really exciting to watch and got us back in the game. We could have easily been bowled out cheaply but proud of the effort.
Everyone is on the edge of the seat when those two (Sarfaraz and Pant) are playing. They like the play the game which has got them success. Rishabh, with the way he bats he takes a lot of risks but I thought it was mature innings in the game. Defended good balls and left a few balls and then backed himself to play those shots as well. Sarfaraz showed great maturity as well.
He is only playing his 4th Test match and to show that kind of maturity and very clear in his mind what shots he wanted to play. I said in my press conference after Day 2 that we knew it will be sticky early on and challenged with the overcast conditions but we didn’t expect to be out under 50.
New Zealand bowled pretty well and challenged every corner of our bat and we failed to respond to that. Games like these happen. We will take the positives and move forward. There are guys who have been in this situation before. We lost a game against England and won four games after that. Two Test matches to go and we know exactly what is needed from each one of us. We will try and put our best game forward.
Tom Latham the winning New Zealand skipper said : I think we were actually going to bat first as well. Good toss to lose in the end. We put the ball in the right areas for a long period of time and got the results. The first two innings set the game up for us. We knew India would come back at us in the third innings but the bowlers asked nice questions with the second new ball and got the results. We know what a quality side India are in their own conditions.
We saw what the new ball did for us so we expected them to do the same to us. We managed to build a couple of partnerships up top and I thought the partnership between Rachin and Tim (Southee) put us on the front foot when the game was in the balance. It was nice to only chase a 100.
He (O’Rourke) has been fantastic at the international stage. Pace, bounce, ability to move the ball in the air and off the wicket. He was backed up by the veteran Southee and Matt Henry as well.
The way he (Southee) bowled up top in the first innings probably the set the tone for us beautifully and we know the capability Tim had with the bat. Young guy (Rachin), played Test cricket a few years ago. They way he has played in the last 12 months and sort of slotted into a new role he’s not used to.. he showed his class in the first innings. Settled the nerves in our change room with the way he came out and batted today.
Rachin Ravindra was Player of the Match for his runs in both the innings said : It’s a nice city, nice wicket to bat on. So yea, the odds are in my favour. I guess it’s a combination of both (form and preparation). As long as I have clarity of what needs to be done and I know what my plan is it’s great. And also having the choice of being able to move forward and back, wasn’t trying to take the attack to them but taking care of my positions which is important in this part of the world.
Preparation does help. When you’ve got six Tests in a row you’re always looking to do something extra. Lucky enough it all worked out today. I was trying to get a read of different surfaces, red roil and black soil, and seeing what sort of guard I can stand on for different kinds of bowlers. Nets every single day, net bowlers coming in, all that was invaluable experience. Very grateful for those guys putting it on (facilities in Chennai).
I wouldn’t say I am looking to attack but I’m hoping to get into good positions that allow me to score. It’s just hopefully the way I move allows me to score in different areas. It’s not about getting the boundary every time but also about rotating the strike and we speak about that in the team.
It’s important for us and hopefully that left-right combination frustrates them a little bit. I guess I’m a natural stroke-maker, even in white ball cricket so it’s nice to bring that into the Test arena. Whenever I play in Bangalore it’s quite nice to have the support. My phone starts blowing up. The fans are great to, I love the support. It’s nice having dad and close family here, it always makes it special.
107 wasn’t going to be enough on this pitch but India, especially Bumrah, made it tough early on. Conway struggled his way before being dismissed but it was Will Young that played positively and settled the nerves. Rachin Ravindra then came out and played his shots to ensure the Indian heads dropped pretty soon after the new ball excitement.
New Zealand did this with the new ball in both innings. 46/0 and then 7 wickets for 52 runs in the second innings with the second new ball. They picked three pacers and tortured the batters. As it turns out, seemed to be the right approach on this pitch. Spinners didn’t have much a say in the game from both sides.
It was Matt Henry that was in the spotlight on the first morning. Overcast skies, moisture in the surface and movement off the seam was what he found when he turned up – conditions that he would be very familiar with and he made the most of them. Having hit the right lines and lengths with perfect consistency, Henry simply allowed the pitch to shine and get him the rewards – it was like a skillful violinist extracting the finest tunes out of his Stradivarius.
Rachin Ravindra played the innings of the game. The openers set the stage and Ravindra stole the show. While the first half of his innings was a demonstration of his immaculate technique, his dynamism came to the fore as the innings progressed. The same balls which he might’ve creamed through the covers were being dispatched into the stands as he went to 100 and beyond.
Playing with a sense of control and maturity that’s akin to experienced legends of the game, the 24-year old dominated and played one of the best innings by a Kiwi on Indian soil. In the face of tremendous pressure and expectations, Sarfaraz Khan unfurled an inimitable masterclass to lead India’s counter-attack. All the cheeky and unorthodox shots he made a name for himself playing were on full display as he left the New Zealand captain scratching his head.
A man who loves getting big hundreds, Sarfaraz carried on and turned his maiden Test century into a 150 to show everybody that what he can do in domestic cricket, he can at the international level too. Fearless and brutal but always with a smile on his face, Rishabh Pant’s 99 carried his unmistakably canny flair.
After suffering a blow to his knee earlier, many wondered if and how Rishabh Pant would bat. Arriving at the crease with India in crucial position, Pant complemented his partner Sarfaraz and stitched a game-changing 177-run stand before gut wrenchingly falling 1 short of what would’ve been his 7th Test century. Instead he was out for the 7th time in his 90s.
When Will O’Rourke’s 6ft 6in frame steamed in to bowl, it induced confidence in his side and uncertainty in that of the opponents. Hitting hard lengths, extracting extra bounce and generally making life miserable for the batters, his was a bit of a roller-coaster journey in this game. After picking up 4 wickets in the first innings, he endured a weary and unrewarding spell in the second.
That was before he returned with a thunderous spell with the second new ball to break the spine of India’s batting order just when they were threatening to gain the ascendancy.
To comeback from 46 all out to score 462 in their second essay showed this team’s immense character and tenacity. The fact that they were even able to get themselves into a position where they could think about winning was an achievement in itself. It takes unfathomable amounts of courage and skill for a side to turn things around so dramatically and in such a short amount of time. So, as horrific as 46 was, India can take a lot of pride in the way they responded to it.
As many as five batters got ducks in the first innings but returned to redeem themselves in the second. While Sarfaraz’s 150 and Pant’s 99 personified India’s audacious reprisal, the rest of the top order made important contributions as well. When it was then time to defend 107, India bowled with a lot of heart and had the opposition on the tenterhooks. Unfortunately though, that 46 came back to haunt them and proved to be too much of a burden to carry throughout the game.
Historic achievement for New Zealand, this isn’t just any Test win, it’s their first on Indian soil against 1988 and it’s come against a side that’s at the top of their game and at the top of the WTC charts. The conditions played right into their hands on the second day after the first was washed out and after bundling India out cheaply, they batted superbly to post 402. Rachin Ravindra’s flawless 134 was captivating and it put his side into a commanding position.
While India marched their way back into the contest in the second innings, New Zealand held their nerve and struck back sharply when they got their chance with the second new ball. That was where they made things a lot easier for themselves and although they looked on edge while batting last, they endured the difficult phase, played with grit and grabbed their opportunities to score.
A rare loss for India at home. They had a lot going against them in this one but they put up a strong fight. New Zealand become only the third team after England and Australia to win a Test in India since 2013.
The Bengaluru weather proved to be New Zealand’s 12th man. Overcast conditions aided their seamers when they bowled first and almost as if they had ordered it, the sun came out and flattened the deck when they came out to bat. It’s now 1-0 to New Zealand with two games to go. We move to Pune next where New Zealand will likely not be the beneficiaries of friendly conditions