The sky turned gloomy on the fourth day of the first Test, prompting captain Tom Latham to opt for a pace attack from either end. The only time when the ball moved laterally was after landing on the cracks present in the pitch, albeit Sarfaraz and Pant were easy on the eyes. The former did not hesitate to put away a loosener for boundary with Pant playing second fiddle for the early part of the first session. Soon, the wicketkeeper-batter switched gears with Sarfaraz racing to his maiden Test century with a backfoot punch for four in the 57th over. Right after, Pant joined him by taking down Ajaz Patel for a couple of sixes and a four amidst two reviews, leading up to a well-knit fifty. With dark clouds hovering around the cauldron, the umpires had to pause and call for early Lunch with rain pouring down as India’s score read 344/3 in 71 overs.
After a couple of hours delay, the proceedings resumed with Sarfaraz and Pant attacking the bowlers on any given loseners. The score touched the 400-run mark in the 80th over followed by Sarfaraz getting to the 150 mark and falling prey to Southee’s second new ball spell. Subsequently, Pant kept the scoreboard moving thick and fast with a gung-ho intent before chopping down to Will O’Rourke at 99. Rahul followed suit at the cusp of Tea with India’s score of 438/6.
Wickets fell like nine pins at the start of the third session with the Kiwis taking just about 50 minutes to wrap the rest of the Indian line-up for 462 with a lead of 106 runs. As soon as the New Zealand batters walked out to bat in the middle, the weather turned dark. Jasprit Bumrah did challenge Devon Conway in the four balls he got to bowl before the umpires decided to force the players to stroll off the field. In no time, it started raining pitchforks before the match officials called it a day with New Zealand needing 107 for a win.
Maybe
He knows
Bro thinks he knows better than Umpires..
They always cry
Then Kohli and Aninkya and now Rohit.. pic.twitter.com/HCs1hQt7Vj— Daredevil (@Daredev6969) October 19, 2024
How would you assess India’s comeback performance? pic.twitter.com/8gewHReMWy
— Subham Seth🇮🇳 (@SubhamS22541823) October 19, 2024
Saved
Attitude
even when india is lagging behind in game by far they were protesting against the stoppage of play due to low light. This attitute🔥🔥 Never give up🙂#INDvNZL #IndvNz #RohitSharma #indvsnz pic.twitter.com/UBJyq1IVKk
— ‘अपरिक्षिता’ (@Apariksita) October 19, 2024
Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli still waiting. They want to go out there badly and bowl overs to New Zealand batters 😭😭😭#INDvNZ #tapmad #DontStopStreaming pic.twitter.com/71hJelRPZr
— Mubashir hassan (@Mubashirha88911) October 19, 2024
Only believe
Says it all
Reactions say it all 🥶🥶 107 m six by pant 🔥🤴#Rishabhpant #INDvNZ #INDVSNZ pic.twitter.com/UWfwJT8v7l
— CRICWORLD (@HanvantC) October 19, 2024
He just cannot believe it
Virat Kohli smiling now. He cannot believe what’s happening 😭😭😭#INDvNZ #tapmad #DontStopStreaming pic.twitter.com/dvWpszzC1a
— Mubashir hassan (@Mubashirha88911) October 19, 2024
Upset
