IND vs NZ: 1st Test Review – New Zealand resist India’s bowling effort to hold a draw
Phew! Nothing can beat the drama that Test cricket offers. The light also had a part to play, and in the end, the New Zealand side held on for a sensational draw, with just one wicket left.
New Zealand did not lose any wicket in the first session of Day 5, and still had 9 wickets left when the second session started. However, the Indian spinners ran riot with the ball, as New Zealand lost a heap of wickets. However, Rachin Ravindra’s defiant knock, where he consumed 91 balls for his 18 runs helped the Kiwis draw the match.
India batted first and scored 345, with Shreyas Iyer scoring a superb ton. The New Zealand side replied with a total of 296. In the second innings, half-centuries from Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha helped India declare their second innings with their scorecard reading 234/7, as the hosts set New Zealand a target of 284 for victory. Now both teams will head to Mumbai where there will be everything to play for.
Top Performers from the match
1. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer experienced a fairytale start to his Test career. The right-hander scored 105 in the first innings and helped the hosts to a total of 345. In the second innings too, it was Iyer who stepped up with India in troubled waters. The Ajinkya Rahane led side was reeling at 51/5, and Iyer steered his side to safety by scoring a superb 65.
2. Tom Latham
Tom Latham stood like an immovable rock in the middle. In both innings put together, the Kiwi opener faced more than 400 deliveries. While Latham scored 95 in the first innings, he contributed a patient 146-ball 52 in the second essay. And, Latham played a key role in helping his side draw the match.
3. Axar Patel
Axar Patel was outstanding with the ball, especially in the first innings. The left-arm spinner scalped a five-wicket haul in the 1st innings to constantly put the brakes on the New Zealand side. He took the key wickets of Ross Taylor and Tom Latham in the first essay and never allowed the Kiwi batsmen off the hook.
In the second innings, Axar scalped 1 wicket to finish the match with a total tally of 6 scalps to his name.
Stats and Milestones
1. Shreyas Iyer became the only Indian batsman to score a century and a half-century in his debut Test match.
2. Ravichandran Ashwin went past Harbhajan Singh and is currently occupying the 3rd spot in the list of highest wicket-takers for India in Tests. Ashwin currently has 419 wickets to his name.
3. This is the 3rd instance of a Test match being drawn with the opposition 9 wickets down against India. The previous 2 occasions took place in the year 1978 and 2006 respectively.
What’s next for both teams?
India and New Zealand will next take on each other in the 2nd and final Test match of the series. The 2nd rubber is scheduled to be held in Mumbai and will commence on 3rd December 2021.
