Sarfaraz Khan shone brightly in the Bengaluru Test, smashing his maiden century for India against New Zealand. His brilliant knock of 150 came off 195 balls at an impressive strike rate of 76.92. His innings was decorated with 18 boundaries and 3 towering sixes.
However, his time at the crease was cut short in the 85th over of India’s second innings when Tim Southee dismissed him. Despite the setback, Sarfaraz was delighted with his performance. In the post-day press conference, he expressed his excitement, saying, “It felt amazing to get my first century for India.” He also predicted a challenging final day for New Zealand, noting the deteriorating pitch conditions.
India’s Struggles in the Second Innings
India’s second innings started strong, reaching 407-3, but a sudden collapse saw the team lose seven wickets for just 60 runs. The New Zealand bowlers capitalized on the post-Tea session with the new ball, causing significant trouble for the Indian batting lineup.
Ravindra Jadeja was the first to fall, dismissed for just 5 runs by William O’Rourke. Wickets continued to tumble, with key players like Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj departing quickly. Despite these challenges, India managed to post a respectable total of 462 runs, with Kuldeep Yadav remaining unbeaten on 6. O’Rourke and Matt Henry were the stars with the ball, taking three wickets each.
The Final Day Challenge for India
With New Zealand needing just 107 runs to win, India faces an uphill battle on the final day of the Bengaluru Test. The bad light on Day 4 allowed the New Zealand openers, Tom Latham and Devon Conway, to face only four deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah before play was stopped.
Sarfaraz Khan emphasized the importance of taking early wickets, given the tricky pitch conditions. “The pitch is breaking down, and the ball is moving. If we strike early, they could find themselves in trouble,” Sarfaraz commented. As the match nears its conclusion, India will need a strong bowling effort to prevent New Zealand from claiming victory.
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