Cricket fans were at the edge of their seat as India desperately searched for a decisive wicket against world Test champions New Zealand.
In dramatic scenes at Kanpur, New Zealand batted through the entirety of day five to secure a nailbiting draw in the first Test against India, albeit with the assistance of some bad light.
The hosts were tasked with claiming nine wickets on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, but the Kiwis held their nerve, surviving 94 overs to avoid defeat.
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Starting day five at 1/4, New Zealand opener Tom Latham and nightwatchman William Somerville batted through to lunch, putting together a crucial 76-run partnership for the second wicket.
Somerville fell to the pace of Umesh Yadav after the interval while Latham became spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s 418th Test victim in the afternoon session.
Latham was dismissed for 52, making him just the third New Zealander to score at least fifty runs in both innings of a Test match on Indian soil.
The Black Caps lost a cluster of wickets in quick succession after the tea break, with Indian tweaker Ravindra Jadeja cleaning up the lower order.
When New Zealand No. 11 Ajaz Patel walked to the crease, there was still more than half an hour remaining in the day’s play.
The final 30 minutes were highlighted by desperate DRS reviews, a horde of Indian fielders crowded around the bat and footage of the on-field umpires whipping out their light meters.
But Patel and New Zealand debutant Rachin Ravindra, who are both of Indian origin, got through 52 deliveries unscathed before stumps was called prematurely due to bad light.
“Rachin in his first Test and Ajaz as well showed a lot of ticker to bat those few overs there, and against high-quality world-class spin as the light was dimming,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said after the match.
“It has been touch and go around this time throughout this Test.
“The Indian side is a formidable one, they were on top for the large part, but we hung around.
“All three results were in play, but we fought hard and showed the fight on the last day.”
New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham tweeted: “Incredibly gutsy performance. Proud of all you lads!”
Indian broadcaster Harsha Bhogle posted: “By the slimmest of edges, by the odd millimetre here and there after five days of cricket. Survival such a great attribute. Have to love test cricket!”
Jadeja finished with figures of 4/40 from 28 overs, while Indian debutant Shreyas Iyer was named player of the match for his 170 runs over two knocks. He became the first Indian to score a century and fifty on Test debut.
“Always nice to see a young kid come and do well for India in his first Test match,” Indian coach Rahul Dravid said of Iyer.
“It’s also a really good reflection of the Indian system and the fact that we have been able to develop (players).
“It wasn’t easy for him considering he hadn’t played first class cricket for the last three years,” he added.
“Probably wouldn’t have made the 11 if it hadn’t been for injuries and people had been resting. But he got his opportunity and took it with both hands.”
The second Test gets underway in Mumbai on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 3pm AEDT.
Originally published as New Zealand pulls off great escape with nailbiting draw against India
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