Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant are seen on day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on October 19, 2024.
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar
For a good 170 minutes, Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant dared to dream. With every exotic hit, the duo took India closer and closer to achieving the improbable.
And then the second new ball arrived as a cruel awakening. Sarfaraz and Pant were prised out, dampening India’s chances of recording a famous win.
On the fifth and final day of a riveting Test, New Zealand will need to score 107 runs to take the series lead. The visitor has all ten wickets intact; India needs a miracle.
The morning session witnessed a counterattack for the ages. Sarfaraz (150, 195b, 18×4, 3×6) and Pant (99, 105b, 9×4, 5×6) crushed the New Zealand bowlers into submission with outstanding shotmaking.
Stunning shots
There can be no better example of this utter domination than Pant, down on one knee, slog-sweeping fast bowler Tim Southee out of the stadium. Southee looked in disbelief, taking a minute to comprehend the absurdity of the stroke.
Any doubts surrounding Pant’s fitness were eliminated when he walked out to bat at the start of the day. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was among his early victims, as Pant dealt two hammer blows.
At the other end, Sarfaraz toyed with the attack. Anything outside off was met with a dab, despite the presence of a slip, gully and third-man. There was only one winner in this game of cat and mouse, as the batter repeatedly managed to avoid the desperate catchers.
The relentless charge continued after a short rain interruption, with Pant smashing Rachin Ravindra for a six in the fourth ball after the restart.
There was one tense moment, when Pant was stranded in the middle of the pitch going for a second run. A lazy effort from fielder Devon Conway and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell kept Pant alive.
Starting proceedings with a 125-run overall deficit, Sarfaraz and Pant pulled India into the lead. Sarfaraz brought up his first Test hundred with a textbook backfoot drive, and celebrated with a jubilant sprint.
Just when India began to harbour hopes of setting a sizeable target, Sarfaraz fell to Southee.
An uppish drive, similar to the manner of his dismissal in the first essay, popped up to cover. Sarfaraz walked off to huge applause from the sizeable crowd, but the Mumbaikar will feel that he should have stayed on for longer.
A few overs later, the spectators went silent when Pant chopped William O’Rourke onto the stumps. It turned out to be a heavy blow for India.
Quick capitulation
At 433 for five, India was ahead by 77 runs, and still in with a chance. K.L. Rahul entered the arena as the local hero, but failed to impress. Rahul lasted only 16 deliveries, nicking one to the ‘keeper.
Ravindra Jadeja was not much better, tying himself into a knot with an attempted pull. R. Ashwin and the tail offered no resistance.
In a little over an hour, India had gone from a massive high to despair.
The home team was desperate to get a couple of quick wickets in the final session, but poor light forced stoppage of play after four Jasprit Bumrah balls.
India needs more inspired performances, or long spells of rain, to avoid defeat on Sunday.
Published – October 19, 2024 11:30 am IST
