New Zealand record first Test win in India for 36 years

BENGALURU:

New Zealand beat India by eight wickets in Bengaluru Sunday to record their first Test win on Indian soil for 36 years.

Chasing 107 on a rain-delayed fifth day, New Zealand lost captain Tom Latham without scoring and Devon Conway, before Will Young with 48 and Rachin Ravindra, 39, took them to 110-2 and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

New Zealand wrapped up their first victory in India since 1988. This is their third Test victory in India, including one in 1969.

The lowest target ever defended successfully in a Test by India was 107 against Australia at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in 2004.

Rain interrupted end of first session

Rain also interrupted play towards the end of the first session, with around two hours lost on an action-packed day.

Sarfaraz, who struck 150, and the left-handed Pant, who hit 99, put on 177 runs for the fourth wicket to overhaul India's big deficit of 356 before the second new ball did the trick for the Black Caps.

Sarfaraz, who hit his first ton in four Test appearances, fell soon after reaching 150 when he was caught at cover off Tim Southee.

"Since I started playing cricket, it was my dream to play for India and score a 100 for India. I am happy," the 26-year-old Sarfaraz told reporters.

"It is not an easy wicket and I feel the game has not slipped out of our hands. If we can take out two or three quick wickets then they will suffer the same fate."

India collapse

O'Rourke denied Pant his century with a delivery from around the wicket that took the edge of the bat and rattled the stumps and then got KL Rahul out for 12 on the stroke of tea.

Pant came in to bat after resting on Friday with a knee injury.

It was the same knee he hurt in a serious car crash in December 2022 that forced him out of action for more than a year.

Wickets kept tumbling and Henry wrapped up the innings with two in one over.

India, who resumed on 231-3, lost seven wickets for 54 runs after New Zealand took the second new ball in the 81st over.

Rookie O'Rourke sent down three successive maiden overs with a wicket in each to finish with 7-114 from India's two innings.

Before lunch, Sarfaraz punched a boundary off the back foot through cover off Southee to reach his ton, earning a hug from Pant and a standing ovation from fans and teammates.

India were bowled out for 46 in the first innings, their third-lowest Test total and their lowest at home.

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra then put the tourists ahead with 134, steering them to 402 all out.

The opening day's play was washed out due to rain.