December 5
Team India Needs 5 More Wickets
Team India has set a target of 540 runs in front of New Zealand. New Zealand has scored only 140 runs for loss of 5 wickets at the end of the third day. Henry Nicholls is unbeaten on 36 and Rachin Ravindra on 2.
R Ashwin has so far taken 3 wickets for India. There are still two days left in the match and the Indian team is 5 wickets away from victory. At the same time, NZ have to score 400 more runs to win the match.
Earlier, India declared their second innings at 276 for 7 in 70 overs just before tea on the third day, setting New Zealand a target of 540.
Mayank Agarwal scored 62 and shared a century partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara while Shubman Gill (47) and Virat Kohli (36) added 82 runs for the third wicket as India went searching for runs. Axar Patel blasted an unbeaten 41 runs off 26 balls as India declared at 276/7.
Ajaz Patel, who has taken all 10 wickets in the first innings, took another 4 wickets in the second innings. He has taken 14 Wickets in the Match giving 225 runs. This is the best figures by any bowler against India. The previous best was 13/106 by Ian Botham of England at the Wankhede Stadium in 1980.
Daryl Mitchell and Henry Nicholls took charge of New Zealand’s innings after losing 3 wickets at 55. Both added 73 runs in 111 balls for the fourth wicket. This partnership was broken by Axar Patel by dismissing Mitchell (60). Mitchell scored 60 runs in 92 balls. This was his second half-century in Test cricket.
Scores: India 325 & 276/7 in 70 overs (Mayank Agarwal 62, Cheteshwar Pujara 47, Shubman Gill 47, Virat Kohli 36, Axar Patel 41 not out; Ajaz Patel 4-106, Rachin Ravindra 3-56) v New Zealand 62 & 140/5 in 45 overs (Daryl Mitchell 60, Henry Nicholls 36 not out; R Ashwin 3-27, Axar Patel 1-42).
