Mumbai. When India’s world-class batsmen were looking like novices, New Zealand took advantage of this and registered a 25-run win on the third day of the third and final Test cricket match here on Sunday, making a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match series. Kind of created a new history. New Zealand scored 174 runs in its second innings and set a target of 147 runs for India, but it became like a mountain for the Indian team with the presence of many great batsmen.
Despite Rishabh Pant’s courageous inning of 64 runs, the Indian team collapsed for 121 runs in 29.1 overs. This is the first time that the Indian team has been swept in a three-match series on its own soil. Earlier, the Indian team had to face a 0-2 defeat at the hands of South Africa in a two-match series on their soil in 2000.
The Indian team has had an excellent record on home grounds recently but it did not fare well against New Zealand in this series. The visiting team adapted well to the conditions and performed well in every department of the game. India’s move to prepare a pitch that would help the spinners backfired. The Indian team itself is responsible for its shameful defeat. He did not have a big target in front of him but he showed haste and after losing five wickets in 16 runs, his score became 29 runs for five wickets.
India needed 55 runs to win after lunch and had four wickets left. The responsibility of sailing India was on Pant’s shoulders but after his controversial dismissal, the match turned towards New Zealand. New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel once again proved the Wankhede Stadium lucky for him, taking six wickets for 57 runs. Glenn Phillips supported him well by taking three wickets for 42 runs.
Pant bravely faced every challenge from New Zealand but his dismissal was a severe blow for India. New Zealand appealed for a catch behind the wicket on Patel’s ball, which was rejected by the umpire. Kiwi team took review. It was not clear from the replays whether the ball had touched the bat or the glove but the third umpire gave him out.
Captain Rohit Sharma’s overly aggressive attitude cost India dearly. Rohit Sharma (11) had started well by hitting two fours but he hit his favorite pull shot on the bouncing ball of Matt Henry. Henry started celebrating as the ball was flying in the air as one of the best fielders, Glenn Phillips, was racing to take the catch and he lived up to his partner’s trust.
Shubhman Gill, who scored 90 runs in the first innings, was bowled by Ejaz Patel after scoring only one run. Patel has so far taken four wickets for 43 runs. Virat Kohli (01) returned to the pavilion as soon as he arrived. The ball taking flight from Patel took the edge of his bat and went into the gloves of the wicketkeeper.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (05) was watching the batting collapse from the other end but soon he became a part of it. Phillips got him out LBW. Sarfaraz Khan (01) again rewarded his wicket by playing a sweep shot. Now the entire responsibility was on Pant. He made a partnership of 42 runs for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (06). Will Young showed Jadeja the way to the pavilion by taking a brilliant catch at short leg on Patel’s ball.
After Pant’s dismissal, Washington Sundar (12) and Ravichandran Ashwin (08) struggled for some time but this could only reduce the margin of victory. Earlier, New Zealand advanced its second innings by 171 runs for nine wickets but was able to add only three runs in it. Jadeja (five wickets for 55 runs) ended Patel’s innings by dismissing him and thus achieved the feat of taking 10 wickets in the match by taking five wickets in the second innings also.