Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
70 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 276/7

  • Axar Patel41 (26b)
  • Ajaz Patel26-3-106-4
  • Rachin Ravindra13-2-56-3

1.56pm: Where does Ajaz Patel's 14 for 225 rank among bowling performances against India in Test cricket? Right at the top that's where.

Gareth: "From NZ's perspective, the game cannot be salvaged from here, but some reputations can be - MUST be."

Tasmeem: "Should've allowed Axar another over or two to reach his fifty. It's not too many times that you have a chance to score twin fifties as a lower order batsman, with plenty of time remaining as well." --- Kohli probably didn't want to risk his bowlers getting any niggle of any sort or an injury when coming out to bat.

Aaron : "Axar has a higher test batting average than bowling average - generally the formula for considering a player as a legitimate all-rounder. Obviously early days but still an impressive feat"

1.50pm: India have declared with a lead of 539. New Zealand need 540 to win. India need 10 wickets, which seems far more likely - obviously. Axar unbeaten on 41 off 26. To give you a measure of cricket's changing landscape, that is the exact same score Sachin Tendulkar had got in the third final of the Independence Cup in Dhaka in 1998. That was the game in which India chased 315 for victory, and that innings was a whirlwind. Axar's was too, but in the T20 age, it's not as stunning anymore. Very dominant show by India. No single big score like Mayank Agarwal had in the first innings, but nearly every batter got a start and got some time in the middle.

69.6
W
Patel to J Yadav, OUT, Ajaz has 14. And India have declared too. Tossed up again, Jayant looking to come forward and turn it legside, the dip and turn mean he can only get a leading edge that pops back to Ajaz.

J Yadav c & b Patel 6 (17m 11b 0x4 1x6) SR: 54.54

69.5
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, tossed up, drifting on middle and leg, solidly on the front foot to defend
69.4
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, flighted on the stumps, goes back and pushes it to point
69.3
6
Patel to J Yadav, SIX, and now Jayant gets into the act. They've clearly been given license to just have fun. Dances down the track again and thumps it way over long on with a dismissive swat
69.2
1
Patel to Patel, 1 run, fetches the sweep from outside off, first shot in a while he hasn't timed, gets a single to deep midwicket
69.1
4
Patel to Patel, FOUR, smashed. Axar unleashed. Down the track again, and drives it bullet straight flat over the bowler and into the straight boundary

Shab: "Even if india bats for full day today it shouldn't make any difference whatsoever. 2 days are more then enough for them to take the ten wickets. If they fail to do that then they wouldn't deserve to win."

END OF OVER:
69 | 11 Runs | IND: 265/6

  • Jayant Yadav0 (7b)
  • Axar Patel36 (24b)
  • Rachin Ravindra13-2-56-3
  • Ajaz Patel25-3-95-3
68.6
0
Ravindra to J Yadav, no run, good length on off, turning away, stays beside it and steers it to point on the front foot
68.5
1
Ravindra to Patel, 1 run, length on the stumps, comfortably flicked off his pads through midwicket while on the front foot
68.4
0
Ravindra to Patel, no run, quicker one a bit shorter, turns sharply into him and bounces a bit too, tucks him up as he looks to pat it down
68.3
4
Ravindra to Patel, FOUR, first power, now delicate shot. went wider outside off and spinning away, he waits on it and late cuts it past the slip. Again great timing and the ball wins the race to the boundary
68.2
6
Ravindra to Patel, SIX, Axar on the charge. Down the track again, not fully to the pitch of the ball, but he has a very clean bat swing and great timing, smashes it over midwicket
68.1
0
Ravindra to Patel, no run, length near off, looks to cut. chops it down

Wani: "Can't understand, why is India still batting?" --- why ever not? Only halfway into this Test. Plenty of time left.

END OF OVER:
68 | (maiden) | IND: 254/6

  • Jayant Yadav0 (6b)
  • Axar Patel25 (19b)
  • Ajaz Patel25-3-95-3
  • Rachin Ravindra12-2-45-3
67.6
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, driven to cover
67.5
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, thrusts front foot out again, this has gripped a bit and he's a mite early into the push, hangs in the air but drops short of the bowler to his right
67.4
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, beaten for the third time in a row, again coming on the front foot to defend, but kept the bat a bit more tucked in, and allowed it to spin past
67.3
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, beats the outside edge again, drifts into Jayant, who looks to make room and cut but is beaten
67.2
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, lovely bowling. What tired fingers? He's ripping them. Great loop, pitches and turns past the forward defensive
67.1
0
Patel to J Yadav, no run, fuller on off, big stride out to defend

RT: "Axar is giving his audition for IPL 2022!" --- he hardly needs to audition. He's been a superb performer anyway. Plus he's been retained by Delhi Capitals.

END OF OVER:
67 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 254/6

  • Axar Patel25 (19b)
  • Jayant Yadav0 (0b)
  • Rachin Ravindra12-2-45-3
  • Ajaz Patel24-2-95-3
66.6
6
Ravindra to Patel, SIX, dismissive. Axar has decided to have a go. Tossed up wider outside off, he goes on one knee and simply smashes the cover off the ball, sending it for a powerful six over long-off
66.5
0
Ravindra to Patel, no run, fair bit of turn from a length outisde off spinning into him, makes room and punches to mid-off

Deep point coming in

Hari: "Re : Ashwin not coming into bat,Reckon they want him fresh opening the bowling straightaway..."

66.4
6
Ravindra to Patel, SIX, boom. That is some magnificent timing by Axar. Languidly steps down the track, big backlift and gets to the pitch of the ball and swings it high and mighty, way over long-on

New Zealand 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st13TWM LathamWA Young
2nd32DJ MitchellWA Young
3rd10LRPL TaylorDJ Mitchell
4th73DJ MitchellHM Nicholls
5th1TA BlundellHM Nicholls
6th33HM NichollsR Ravindra
7th3HM NichollsKA Jamieson
8th0TG SoutheeHM Nicholls
9th2WER SomervilleHM Nicholls
10th0HM NichollsAY Patel