India struggles to reach 92-6 at lunch in pursuit of 147 runs against New Zealand in 3rd test

MUMBAI, India — India's chances of securing a consolation win after a disappointing home series performance rely heavily on Rishabh Pant, as the team struggled during their fourth innings chase on day three of an intense third test against New Zealand on Sunday.

Chasing 147 runs to avoid a 3-0 whitewash in the series, India stumbled to lunch at 92-6 with only Pant’s half-century proving a spanner in the works for New Zealand.

At lunch, Pant was unbeaten on 53 from 50 deliveries, with seven fours and a six. Washington Sundar was six not out in a 21-run partnership with Pant.

Pant put on 42 off 53 balls for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja to give India some hope of reaching the target after it had earlier slumped to 29-5.

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel took 4-43 in 10 overs and in the process became the most successful visiting bowler at any Indian venue.

Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips took a wicket each, with India still needing 55 runs for victory.

Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja picked a second five-for in the test as New Zealand was bowled out for 174 runs in its second innings.

The Kiwis had closed day two at 171-9 and could only add another three runs across 14 deliveries. Jadeja dismissed Patel for eight, out caught, for his 15th five-wicket return in tests.

Jadeja finished with match figures of 10-120, his third ten-wicket haul in his 77 tests.

But thereafter, it was all about India’s collapse. Skipper Rohit Sharma was caught for 11, going after Henry with another ill-judged pull shot to be caught at midwicket.

Patel bowled Shubman Gill for one, the batter leaving the ball only for it to knock back his off stump.

The Sunday crowd at the Wankhede Stadium was stunned when Virat Kohli was caught at slip for one in the following over.

Phillips then sent back Yashasvi Jaiswal for five, out lbw. Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss straight to the square leg fielder as India collapsed inexplicably.

Pant then led India’s recovery with some unorthodox shots, while Jadeja was watchful for most parts.

Their partnership pushed India back into contention, before Jadeja was dismissed at short leg for six off 22 balls.

New Zealand had what appeared a close lbw appeal against Pant turned down and they didn’t opt for DRS review either, with telvision replays showing that Pant would have been dismissed.

Patel’s four wickets before lunch took his tally to 23 at the Wankhede Stadium in four innings. He bowled a record 10-119 here in 2021, finishing that game with 14 wickets.

He went past England’s Ian Botham who had taken 22 wickets at the same ground and was previously the most successful visiting bowler at any venue in India.

New Zealand scored 235 runs in its first innings, while India took a slender 28-run lead with 263 runs in reply.

New Zealand won the first two tests in Bengaluru and Pune by eight wickets and 113 runs respectively, registering a landmark first test-series win in India.

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