Image Credit: BCCI
New Zealand Needs 107 to Win After India Posts 462 in Second Innings
New Zealand finds themselves needing just 107 runs to win after India’s second innings ended at 462 on Day 4 of the first Test at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The match has delivered all the drama Test cricket promises, with both teams showcasing moments of brilliance and sudden collapses.
India’s Resurgence Led by Sarfaraz and Pant
After a dismal first-innings total of 46, India made a spirited comeback, thanks to Sarfaraz Khan’s majestic 150 and Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 99. The duo shared a crucial 177-run partnership, lifting India from a precarious position and scoring at a brisk rate of 5.03 runs per over. Sarfaraz, with his clever strokes and late cuts, tormented New Zealand’s bowlers, while Pant’s fearless approach brought India back into the contest.
Pant, unfortunately, fell just one run short of his century, bowled by William O’Rourke in a heart-wrenching moment for the home crowd. O’Rourke’s extra bounce proved fatal for Pant, who edged the ball onto his stumps. This was Pant’s seventh dismissal in the 90s, a recurring frustration in his otherwise brilliant career.
New Zealand Strikes Back with the Second New Ball
Despite India’s resurgence, New Zealand regained control with the second new ball. After India reached 400 for 3, New Zealand’s bowlers staged a stunning fightback, dismissing India’s remaining batters for just 62 runs. O’Rourke led the charge, claiming three wickets in quick succession, including the crucial dismissals of Ravindra Jadeja and Pant. His spell of 3-3-0-3 shifted the momentum entirely.
Matt Henry played a key role in cleaning up India’s tail, taking the final two wickets with ease, reducing India’s once-promising total to 462.
New Zealand’s Modest Target
New Zealand now requires just 107 runs to win the Test, a chase that appears straightforward. However, with India having once bowled out a team for 83 in a fourth innings, they will be hoping to recreate similar magic. New Zealand, though, is in a strong position to secure a win in this gripping first Test of the series.
