WTC final Day 3: New Zealand 101/2 trail India by 116 runs at stumps

New Zealand were 101/2 at stumps on day 3, trailing India by 116 runs in the World Test Championship final against India on Sunday. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor were batting on 12 and 0 respectively when bad light forced early stumps.

Ishant Sharma removed opener Devon Conway (54 off 153) towards the end of the day to give India a much-needed breakthrough.

Earlier, New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, playing his only 8th Test match, recorded his fifth 5-wicket haul as India were 217 all out in 92.1 overs. Jamieson was the wrecker-in-chief as the Indian batsmen could not counter his fiery bouncers and on-point fuller deliveries.

Apart from Jamieson, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner returned with two wickets each and Tim Southee scalped one wicket.

Earlier, India captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane started Day 3, looking to consolidate on the overnight’s score. However, Kyle Jamieson trapped Kohli (44) in front of the wicket to give his team the start they needed. After this, the Indian batting line-up kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Also read | WTC is Virat Kohli’s biggest bid to win his first ICC trophy as captain

After Kohli, the next batsman to depart was Rishabh Pant, who took the long walk back after attempting a drive off a Jamieson full delivery. An outside edge and Tom Latham completed the catch at the slips.

Rahane looked solid and was one run short of Test fifty, however, Neil Wagner had other plans. The New Zealand bowler used the short ball nicely against the Indian right-hander and prompted him to make a forced error. This saw Rahane depart on 49, courtesy of a Latham catch at square leg.

Also Read | Virat Kohli or Kane Williamson: Who is the better Test captain?

At Lunch, India finished at 211/7, with Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja out in the middle for India.

For India, apart from the openers – Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill – who stitched together a 62-run opening partnership, Ravichandran Ashwin (22) and Ravindra Jadeja (15) added quick runs to the Indian team total.

India XI:Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult