A wet outfield delayed the start of play on Day 5 of the World Test Championship final in Southampton. However, a glorious day helped the umpires push back the end of the day’s cricket until seven in the evening. New Zealand, 101/2 overnight, were reduced to 135/5 before they recovered to 249. By stumps, India had converted their 32-run deficit into a 32-run lead, but not before Tim Southee had trapped both openers leg-before.
Until they got out, however, neither Shubman Gill nor Rohit Sharma had looked particularly uncomfortable. Southee took out both men with identical ploys. He sized them with a string of outswingers, then bowled one – to each – that did not move away. They missed, presumably playing for the outswing.
At the crease are Cheteshwar Pujara (12*) and Virat Kohli (8*). There is still enough time in the Test match to yield a result, and India will have to bat really well to save this Test match. Remember, they had lost their last seven wickets for 68 in the first innings. They will have to do better than that.
An Indian win, of course, is extremely unlikely. Even if they manage to bat until halfway through the second session, a declaration will be extremely tricky. Expect the New Zealand fast bowlers to come out all guns blazing in the morning: they have very little to lose at this point.
Only 23 overs were possible in the truncated first session, and the Indian fast bowlers put up a masterclass of pace bowling. Hostile and accurate, they stifled Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, allowing just 16 runs from the first 14 overs. The breakthrough came when Taylor tried to drive Mohammed Shami through cover, and Gill flung himself to his right and front to come up with a superb catch.
Ishant did not release the pressure at the other end, making strokeplay exceedingly difficult. He was rewarded with a wicket when a ball found Henry Nicholls’ edge. Rohit flew to his left from second slip to take the catch. Soon, Shami beat BJ Watling’s outside edge to hit off stump. New Zealand were 135/5 at this stage.
But the lower order stood up. Colin de Grandhomme got 13 before Shami trapped him leg-before. Kyle Jamieson made merry, lofting Shami over the head for six before getting out trying to hook a bouncer. And Williamson’s great resistance (49) came to an end when Ishant had him caught at slip. The three partnerships yielded 27, 30, and 29 – significant numbers for a low-scoring match.
The spinners returned to clean up the tail, but not before Southee had raced to 30 with two sixes. Even the last two wickets accounted for 28 between them.
Brief scores
India 217 (Ajinkya Rahane 49; Kyle Jamieson 5-31) and 64/2 (Rohit Sharma 30; Tim Southee 2-17) lead New Zealand 249 (Devon Conway 54; Mohammed Shami 4-76) by 32 runs.