by India 46 and 344 for 3 (Sarfaraz 125*, Pant 53*) Trail New Zealand 402 x 12 runs
Sarfaraz scored his maiden Test century late and Pant, recovering from the injury to his surgically repaired knee in a life-threatening accident, scored an unbeaten half-century. Combined, the two were a real threat to captain Tom Latham. They had little regard for fielding, showed no fear of making mistakes and the New Zealand bowlers once again failed to give Latham control. The biggest disappointment was Ajaz Patel, who turned the ball over less than part-time player Rachin Ravindra, who bowled just one ball before rain cut short the session.
It seemed like the seam bowlers wanted to catch Sarfaraz lbw, but that only continued to give him easy singles to the leg side. As the keeper got to the stumps, Pant rooted to the crease and the visitors were rewarded with a lead, but the dying pitcher didn’t get enough chances to carry it. Just in the eighth over of the day, Sarfaraz Southee hit deep cover for what would have been a single for any other batter, but he had sent all the fielders back with his late cuts. The border brought out an emotional hundred.
Apart from Southee, Glenn Phillips was the only one who could give New Zealand some control, but he too bowled a full toss to take Pant to his half-century. New Zealand made just 25 errors in 22 overs, which is not high considering their attacking approach. In any case, they had lost the right to have attacking fielders who could capitalize on these mistakes. The edges didn’t wear either.
The only time New Zealand got to a wicket was a run-out chance at Pant’s end, but Tom Blundell excused it for the second time in the game by leaving his base to collect a long toss, seemingly without one to be aware of the opportunity at its end. At that time, Pant had scored just six points.
Half an hour before the scheduled lunch break, the rain came as a relief for New Zealand. Lunch was finally eaten at 11:20 a.m., ten minutes earlier than usual.
