After a humiliating Day 2, the India Cricket Team have some respite on Day 3. While the bowling was subpar, it is however the batters who find form after their first innings batting collapse. New Zealand were bowled out for a score of 402, thereby enjoying a massive lead of 356 runs.
India came out strongly, with captain Rohit Sharma slamming a fine fifty. Ace opener Yashasvi Jaiswal too showed good touch with the bat before being dismissed by Ajaz Menon for a score of 35 runs. On the other hand, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee continued to be a thorn for India.
The hosts were determined to bowl out the Kiwis as early as possible. But young Rachin Ravindra slammed a ton. A fine 134 innings accompanied by a quick firing 65 run knock from Tim Southee which eventually helped the visitors cross the 400 run mark.
Jasprit Bumrah managed to bag a wicket while Mohammed Siraj bagged a couple. But it was the spinners that were the most impressive. The pair of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja bagged 3 wickets a piece showing the pitch has slowed down and is turning a bit.
Indian batters showcase class with gritty knocks
A strong batting innings was expected from the Indian batters and in their second innings they delivered. Ace southpaw Yashasvi Jaiswal showed a deft touch slamming 6 fours before eventually being dismissed. Rohit Sharma led the team from the front, slamming a fine fifty before being unfortunately dismissed.
The Indian skipper 8 fours and a solitary sixer to reach his fifty. Then comes the pairing of Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan. Both the batters were dismissed for ducks in the first innings but they regained composure to slam their respective half-centuries. Virat Kohli went on to cross 9000 Test runs, a big landmark for the ace batter.
Up next comes Sarfaraz Khan. He too brushed off his first innings duck with a well-constructed fifty. The young Mumbai batter channeled his inner might to take the task to the Kiwi bowlers. Taking no prisoners Sarfaraz went on to hammer his fifty slamming 6 fours and 3 glorious sixes.
As fate would have it, Virat Kohli was dismissed on the last ball of Day 3 after a score of 70 runs. A soft dismissal by Glen Phillips with a feather of an outside edge, the batter walks back. India ended Day 3 with a score of 231/3, training by a score of 125 runs.
