Delve into the dramatic Day 4 of the Test match featuring Sarfaraz and Pant as they guide India’s fightback. Catch all the highlights and analysis here.
Introduction:
Test cricket refers to the purest form of the game-an endurance test where skills and mental toughness come into play. Recent times have shown that the longest version of the game still brings out the most excitable moments in cricket. For any standards, it was one of the tests with the best batting and exciting bowling. Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant put India back into the game and it was going to be one of those Tests that one would remember.
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India’s Audacious Fightback
First innings Indian proved nothing but disastrous, bowled out for a measly 46. That was the time when fans were dejected, but goodness of Test cricket lies in the predictability aspect of things. Just step in Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, two players who, with recklessness and drama, brought India back into the game. Their partnership of 177 runs in just 35.1 overs was evidence of the aggressive nature of India, giving the crowd a glimpse of hope.
His trademark cheekiness allowed Sarfaraz to play good late cuts and ramps while going toe-to-toe with the NZ bowlers; Pant, meanwhile, reveled in the freedom of being fearless, slog-sweeping pacers and spinners alike out of the park. Sarfaraz reached a scintillating 150; his 11th score of more than 150 in first-class cricket, while Pant fell agonizingly short of another century, getting dismissed on 99.
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Second New Ball: Second Last Stint for New Zealand
New Zealand’s bowlers were the last men to have a say in this game, even as India came roaring back into their game. It turned out to be the second new ball which became the decider. In just 20 overs, New Zealand extracted 43 false shots from the Indians by making them play over the shoulders. Really, a splendid effort by the Kiwis, considering that they were under tremendous pressure for over 80 overs.
O’Rourke’s 3-3-0-3 spell that came mixed with a perfect seam movement found by Matt Henry became one of the embodiments of disciplined and crafty bowling. With five wickets already in his pocket in the first innings, Henry was the man who again took the three wickets which sealed the fate of India’s second innings.
India’s improbable attempt at an heist finally came crashing down when they lost seven wickets for just 62 runs. It was as if New Zealand had simmered down its ire for just about too long – its bowlers, on their heels again, dug deep to wrest the game and have India wish for what might have been.
Sarfaraz and Pant: A Thrilling Partnership
Sarfaraz and Pant’s partnership was not about runs, but innovation, courage and audacity. They threw caution to the winds on the Under-19 World Cup, that’s why New Zealand found them hard to contain, and while the Test series Sarfaraz’s first hundred quickly became 150, and Pant, despite visibly limping with his knee injury levelled with Sarfaraz in the department of bravery as well as skill.
Pant’s knock was all about moments of brilliance. He slog-swept Tim Southee out of the stadium and ramped fast bowlers with ease. Five sixes to his name took him past Kapil Dev on India’s all-time list of six-hitters in Tests, and he now stands at number six on the list overall. The aggression from Pant with the shot-making of Sarfaraz was a sight to watch.
New Zealand found it rather difficult to check the pair. Sarfaraz and Pant often made Tom Latham’s field settings all in vain picking gaps and taking singles virtually at will. Ironically, it was part-timer Rachin Ravindra who outbowled New Zealand’s star spinner Ajaz Patel, getting the ball to turn.
New Zealand’s Resilience Finally Pays Dividends
The triumph was New Zealand’s reward for perseverance and restraint. They displayed tremendous grit to get back into the game after being battered by India’s middle order. But O’Rourke and Henry’s spells were the spoils. Even the entire bowling unit, however, kept their cool under pressure.
India, who had been praying for a miracle, eventually ended up praying for the rain to stop and later for the stormy clouds to linger. Bad light and a huge storm forced the players off in the end, which made for a somewhat anticlimactic finish to an intense battle.
Conclusion: A Game of Highs and Lows.
This was test cricket in every sense of the word-in it lie the shimmering heights and dark valleys. It promises much too and turns out short-lived, like India’s fightback, spearheaded by Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant. New Zealand’s bowlers showed the discipline and skill required to win in the toughest conditions, led by Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.
While the result may not have gone India’s way, the match was a reminder of why Test cricket remains the ultimate test of a cricketer’s ability. The ebb and flow of the game, the resilience of the players, and the drama of every session kept the fans on the edge of their seats.