Day 3, WTC Final: Conway Falls on 54, NZ 101/2 at Stumps
India vs NZ: Latest updates from Day 3 of the World Test Championship final.
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It’s Stumps on Day 3 of the World Championship Final between India and New Zealand with Ishant Sharma getting the big wicket of Devon Conway in the last over, before bad light forced players off the field.
Earlier today, India were bowled out for 271 and the Kiwis now trail them by 116 runs with Kane Williamson unbeaten on 12, batting alongside Ross Taylor.
Kiwis Crossed 100
New Zealand’s first innings got off to a solid start with Tom Latham and Devon Conway batting through 206 deliveries, adding 70 runs to the tally.
Latham’s 104-ball 30-run stay at the crease was ended when Virat Kohli took a sharp catch at short extra-cover. Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson then came out to join Conway who had made his Test debut earlier this month, in the series against England, where he scored a double century on debut.
Conway in fact completed his half century, his second in just three matches before eventually falling to Ishant Sharma.
Good timing for the Indians as the umpires took out the light meter before the start of the very next over and got the players to go off the field due to bad light.
India All Out For 217
After Day 1 got washed out due to rain and bad light forced a few stoppages in play on Day 2, there was a short delay in the start this morning as well, but once play got underway, the weather has not played a part in the proceedings.
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane started the day on the overnight score of 146/3 but just four overs into the day, the Indian skipper became Jamieson’s first wicket of the day - trapped lbw on 44. Virat asked for a DRS review but the decision was not overturned and India were reduced to 149/4.
While the need of the hour was for Rishabh Pant to form a solid partnership with Ajinkya Rahane, specially with India playing an extra bowler and electing to not play Hanuma Vihari, Pant lasted all of 6 overs as he too lost his wicket to the tall Kiwi- caught on 4 at second slip by Tom Latham, after facing 22 deliveries.
Ajinkya Rahane ended up becoming the team’s highest-scorer, making 49 before the Indian vice-captain fell to Neil Wagner. The team’s score at the fall of his wicket was 182/6.
Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round skills were being banked upon and the spinner gave it a shot, facing 53 in his innings, where he was part of a 26-run stand with Rahane and then 23 runs with Ashwin. He ended up becoming Trent Boult’s first and only wicket of the innings when he edged one to keeper BJ Watling, while batting on 15.
Ashwin scored 22, Ishant made 4, Bumrah got out on a duck as Shami remained the last man standing, on 4. India all out on 217.
Jamieson finished with 5/31 which included the wickets on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. This is Kyle’s eighth Test and he conceded just 31 runs in the 22 overs he bowled in Southampton, that included 12 maiden overs.
India Scored 146 on Day 2
The entire first day had got washed out due to rain and Saturday saw the toss finally take place with Kane Williamson calling it right and electing to bowl first. The teams managed 64.4 overs of play before bad light forced them off the field. Stumps were called with India’s score at 146/3 with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane at the crease.
Virat was batting on 44 (124 balls) and his deputy Rahane on 29 (79 balls). The two had added 58 runs for the fourth wicket.
Earlier, openers Rohit Sharma (34 off 68 balls) and Shubman Gill (28 off 64 balls) had provided a solid start of 62 in 20 overs then Kyle Jamieson provided the breakthrough on the first ball of his sixth over, having Sharma caught at third slip.
Gill followed over four overs later, nicking one from left-armer Neil Wagner to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Post-lunch, Cheteshwar Pujara's innings came to an end as he was adjudged leg before wicket to a Trent Boult delivery that came back in. The India No.3 made eight of 54 balls.
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