Just like the last two matches, New Zealand once again failed to take advantage of a strong position. The Kiwi openers had their first-century stand in this series when they added 118 runs for the first wicket but apart from Jimmy Neesham who scored a half-century, the other batsmen failed to contribute big.
As a result, from 118 for 1, they were all out for 299, handing India a huge lead of 258 runs. The visitors are in danger of losing the Test, but their opener Tom Latham is confident that his team can put up a good fight in the second innings. Interacting with the media after the end of third day’s play, Latham spoke on various topics.
Excerpts:
On the pitch:
It’s (pitch at Holkar Stadium) obviously deteriorating and turning more. We weren’t at our best today, lost wickets that we weren’t happy with. Hopefully, we can rectify that in the second innings.It’s certainly starting to turn, lot of footmarks. Not cracking up so much but there are dust and footmarks for bowlers to work with. They will be targeting those in the second innings so got to find a way of rectifying that.
On his team’s batting:
Nice me and Gup (Guptill) built a partnership chasing such a big total. Unfortunately, we lost wickets in clumps. It was not our day through the middle of innings, hard to start on that wicket. Unfortunately, our guys couldn’t get in. But (we have) massive chance to do so in the second innings.
On Indian spinners and his team’s strategy to tackle them:
They are world-class especially in their own conditions, bowled lot of overs, and took wickets. We have got a big couple of days and when we get the chance with bat got to put those partnerships together. We got to stick to the game-plan on the surface and stay true to what we believe works. If you have the right technique and mental state you can score runs out there.
On whether Murali Vijay deliberately ran on the pitch:
It’s out of our hands as players, we have got nothing to do with it, it’s up to the umpires they make the call. Guys are going to walk on the wicket. We have got a big job to do in the second innings. We are going to focus on that.