Stumps, Day 4 | That's the end of day's play and India for sure are in control. Having bowled only four overs the hosts managed to pick a wicket. On day five, India will hunt for nine more wickets while New Zealand will either look to chase the target down or draw the Test. Do join us back tomorrow for final day's play.
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India vs New Zealand Highlights 1st Test 2021 Day 4: NZ 4/1 in Chase of 284 at Stumps
Axar Patel was a central figure in India bouncing back from an underwhelming day two to take the upper hand on day three. The spin troika of Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja spun a web around the New Zealand batters, taking nine wickets overall.
28 Nov, 16:33 (IST)
OUT! Ravi Ashwin strikes for India. He traps Will Young in front of the wickets, or did he? Well, well, Hawk-eye showed the ball was missing the stumps. Young ran out of the time to opt for DRS and when he wanted go for it, it was too late. Will Young lbw b Ashwin 2(6)
28 Nov, 16:13 (IST)
India have declared their innings on 234 and that means the target for Kiwis is now 284 runs to win this match. Wriddhiman Saha and Axar Patel remain unbeaten on 61 and 28. Do join us back for New Zealand's response.
28 Nov, 15:57 (IST)
That's half-century up for Wriddhiman Saha. This is his sixth in Tests, a fine knock for him. This is Saha's first 50-plus score in 11 Tests since 2017. A much-needed batting effort from him.
28 Nov, 15:30 (IST)
As 200 comes up for India, their lead has gone past 250-run mark. Wriddhiman Saha is nearing his fifty and has played a fine knock here. One could feel India's declaration coming sooner.
28 Nov, 14:15 (IST)
OUT! End of a fine knock. Shreyas Iyer departs. He is caught down the leg side. Third wicket for Tim Southee as Tom Blundell takes the catch. India meanwhile lead by 216 runs as we head for tea break. Shreyas Iyer c Blundell b Southee 65(125)
28 Nov, 13:49 (IST)
That's half-century up for Shreyas Iyer. What a Test match he is having. Century in the first innings and now a half-century. He becomes first Indian to score a century and half-century in debut Test match.
28 Nov, 13:24 (IST)
Wriddhiman Saha joins Shreyas Iyer in the middle as India lead nears the 200-run mark. India will be looking to up the ante now and try to make New Zealand today before the close of play.
28 Nov, 12:31 (IST)
That's hundred up for India as partnership between Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Ashwin is nearing the 50-run mark as well with India's lead with 149. New Zealand will start feeling the pressure now.
28 Nov, 11:42 (IST)
Lunch Break, Day 4 | That's lunch on day four. The session belongs to New Zealand but it is India's lead that must be bothering them. The hosts lead by 133 runs now and once it crosses 200 they will feel more comfortable. Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Ashwin have done well after India lost quick wickets. Do join us back after the lunch break.
28 Nov, 11:30 (IST)
The partnership between Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Ashwin is now worth 32 off 68 balls and more importantly these two have taken India's lead past the 100-run mark.
28 Nov, 10:47 (IST)
OUT! Second wicket in the over for Tim Southee. India have lost half the side now. Ravindra Jadeja is trapped in front of the wickets. He opts for review but all in vain. It is three reds! Two-ball duck for Jadeja. R Jadeja lbw b Southee 0(2)
28 Nov, 10:43 (IST)
IND 51/4 in 19.2 Overs | Tim Southee Completes 50 Test Wickets Against India, Removes Mayank Agarwal
OUT! Third wicket this morning for New Zealand. Tim Southee accounts for Mayank Agarwal. The right-handed batsman is caught at second slip. This is 50th Test wickets for Southee against India. M Agarwal c Latham b Southee 17(53)
28 Nov, 10:22 (IST)
OUT! Ajaz Patel with a big wicket. India lose second wicket this morning. Ajinkya Rahane is trapped in front of the wickets. No need to review for that, it was plumb. A Rahane lbw b Ajaz Patel 4(15)
28 Nov, 10:02 (IST)
OUT! Kyle Jamieson strikes! Good use of DRS this by New Zealand. Cheteshwar Pujara gloves it to the wicket-keeper. New Zealand were convinced and opted for review. Pujara c Blundell b Jamieson 22(33)
28 Nov, 09:50 (IST)
Action on day four has begun with not much swing on offer for New Zealand pacers. Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara will be eyeing a watchful start and then slowly accelerate. Meanwhile, India's lead is nearing the 100-run mark.
Axar Patel's incredible run in Test cricket at home continued with him picking his fifth five-wicket haul in just seven innings as India bowled out New Zealand for 296 in the first innings. Patel's efforts of breaking the back of New Zealand's innings meant that India took a 49-run lead, which eventually became 63 at stumps on day three at the Green Park Stadium on Saturday despite losing Shubman Gill cheaply. Patel was a central figure in India bouncing back from an underwhelming day two to take the upper hand on day three. The spin troika of Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja spun a web around the New Zealand batters, taking nine wickets overall. India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 4 Live Streaming Online: Get Free Live Telecast of IND vs NZ Test Series on TV With Time in IST
Patel's show began in the post-lunch session, starting with taking out Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls in quick succession. The left-arm spinner got a length delivery to turn and take the outer edge off Taylor's bat on forward defence to substitute keeper KS Bharat (as Wriddhiman Saha had neck stiffness). He then returned in his next over to take out Nicholls, who missed the sweep and was rapped on the back pad. Nicholls reviewed the decision but couldn't reverse it.
Latham, who was as solid as a rock, fell five short of his 12th Test hundred in a sudden rush of blood moment in the 103rd over. The left-hander came out to defend, but the inner edge rolled to Bharat, who kept his balance to complete the stumping, giving Patel his third wicket. In the final session of the day, Patel sneaked one past Tom Blundell's defence to hit the stumps with low bounce. He then completed his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket by surprising Tim Southee with an angled-in delivery, which spun past the bat to leave the stumps shattered. India vs New Zealand 1st Test 2021 Day 3 Stat Highlights: Axar Patel Shines With Five-Wicket Haul.
It was clear that handing Patel the second new ball from the other end worked wonders for India. He used the crease well, managed his pace, and used his round-arm deliveries to good effect in extracting some purchase from a slow pitch. He also got good help from Bharat, who took two catches and effected a stumping off his bowling.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 28, 2021 09:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).