India has finally faced first defeat in the Tests after playing seven Tests since the start of the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21. In Wellington, New Zealand won the first Test match against India by 10 wickets while gaining the lead of 1-0 in the two-match series.
At Basin Reserve, the fourth day started with Hanuma Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane batting in the middle. India needed a strong partnership as they were still trailing by quite a distance. But soon Trent Boult came into action and India’s vice-captain was dismissed for 29 runs. While Vihari, without scoring a run on a penultimate day, was sent back to the pavilion by Southee. And, the partnership was broken and India had lost its half side.
Rishabh Pant tried hard to take innings forward for India but he didn’t get ample support from another end. Ravichandran Ashwin, who was out for a duck in the first innings, however, he started the second innings with a four but could not survive in front of Southee rich vein of form. He was adjudged LBW only to trudge off the field. But here he made a mistake to take a review. And now India was falling away rapidly.
Then Ishant Sharma came into the field and started hitting a couple of boundaries on the bowling of Southee and Boult. His batting had given hopes as on the other end Rishabh Pant also started hitting big shots. Though Colin de Grandhomme managed to take a catch off Ishant. And now Pant was the only batter in the field. India were reeling at 189-8. Thus it meant they took a thin lead of six runs.
It was 80th over and New Zealand got the new ball. Well, the second new ball saw the wicket of Pant. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 25 off 41 balls. For the last wicket stand, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were at the crease. And as expected Bumrah gave his wicket to Southee. The visitors ended up having the lead of just nine runs.
New Zealand opener Tom Latham and Ton Blundell chased the target, and the hosts went on to win the first Test match. Virat Kohli-led side eventually lost the first Test match by 10 wickets.
Talking about Kiwi bowlers, Southee collected five-wicket haul whereas, Boult registered four-wicket haul. The allrounder de Grandhomme picked one wicket while Kyle Jamieson and Ajaz Patel went wicketless.
India’s innings:
New Zealand’s innings:
