Highlights, Ind vs NZ, 1st Test, Full Cricket Score: Kiwis 4/1 at stumps after being set 284 to win

16:46 (IST)

End of what turned out to be a fascinating day’s worth of cricket. The morning session was dominated by the Black Caps as they ran through the top order to reduce the hosts at 51/5. India, however, have been a side that have fought back from the direst of situations in the recent past, and it was Shreyas Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha leading their fightback in the second and third sessions, with valuable contributions from Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel that helped them set a stiff 284-run target. India checked another box with the early dismissal of Will Young, and it will take a miracle for the Kiwis to stop them from going 1-0 up in the two-match series tomorrow.

That brings us to the end of our coverage of Day 4. Do join us tomorrow for the fifth day’s play. For now, this is Amit Banerjee signing off.

16:42 (IST)

“I’ve been in this situation before, but not with the Indian team. During Ranji days, I used to walk in similar situations. Mindset was thinking about the session and play every ball on its merit. (On becoming first Indian in men's cricket to score ton and fifty on debut) I knew about it. Asked a teammate about it, but there have been several players from other teams who have done it. What matters ultimately is winning the match. It was really tough because Rahul sir told me we had to stay on for as long as possible to get to a good total. We felt 250 runs including lead would be good on this surface,” says Shreyas Iyer in a chat with the broadcasters after close of play.

16:36 (IST)

After 4 overs,New Zealand 4/1 ( Tom Latham 2 , William Somerville 0)

New Zealand send Will Somerville as the nightwatchman after Young’s dismissal in the previous over. Axar bowls what turns out to be the final over of the day, giving away just one from it.

It’s stumps on Day 4 of the first Test, with the Black Caps ending the day on 4/1, getting off to a shaky start in their chase of the 284-run target.

16:34 (IST)

After 3 overs,New Zealand 3/1 ( Tom Latham 1 , William Somerville 0)

Saha leaves the field as the neck issue prevents him from keeping the wickets any further, and substitute keeper Bharat takes his place. Big appeal off the second ball, perhaps for a bat-pad, though Ashwin himself isn’t interested. Young gets off the mark with a brace off the third delivery, before getting trapped leg-before by a delivery that turns sharply while staying low. Young would’ve overturned the decision had he signalled for the review on time as the ball later is confirmed to be missing leg, but the timer ran out by the time he was done chatting with Latham.

16:30 (IST)

OUT! Ashwin draws first blood, trapping Young leg-before 2. Umpire Virender Sharma pauses for a couple of seconds before raising his finger. Young has a chat with Latham, and signals for the review, but unfortunately for him, the timer has run out and he has to head back. HawkEye later shows the ball to be missing leg. NZ 3/1

Young LBW Ashwin 2(6)

16:25 (IST)

After 2 overs,New Zealand 1/0 ( Tom Latham 1 , Will Young 0)

Axar Patel bowls the second over. Three fielders near the batsmen, including a leg slip but Latham is not fazed and is solid with his defence. It's a maiden. 

16:21 (IST)

After 1 overs,New Zealand 1/0 ( Tom Latham 1 , Will Young 0)

So Ravichandran Ashwin starts the proceedings for India. There's a LBW appeal against Tom Latham in the second ball but an inside edge off his push saves the batsman. Five dots and then Latham clips to the on side to get off the mark. 

16:18 (IST)

Looks like India will have five or six overs to bowl today. They might start with the spinners. New Zealand openers will find it tricky but they will aim to survive the day.

284 is a tough task for the Kiwis. At one point, India were 51/5 but Shreyas, Ashwin and Saha played superb knocks to put India ahead in the game.  

16:11 (IST)

After 81 overs,India 234/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 61 , Axar Patel 28)

Tim Southee takes the ball. The new one is available but New Zealand haven't taken it yet. Saha punches an outside off stump delivery towards deep point, Ajaz Patel runs and dives but fails to stop the ball so it's a boundary. Saha doesn't time the shot off the last ball but the batsmen do well to collect two runs.  

And that's it. India have declared. New Zealand will need to score 284 to win the Test. 

16:05 (IST)

After 80 overs,India 225/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 54 , Axar Patel 26)

Four singles from Somerville’s 16th over, with both batters starting to show a lot more urgency at the moment. India looking for some quick runs at the moment and get as close to the 300-lead as possible, and then declare, giving their bowlers 10 overs till close of play. Meanwhile, second new ball is now available for the Black Caps. Remains to be seen if Williamson will take it.

15:59 (IST)

After 79 overs,India 221/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 52 , Axar Patel 24)

SIX! Axar takes a couple of steps down the track and smashes the ball over the midwicket fence off the third delivery of the over, bringing up the fifty partnership with Saha in the process! Eight from the over, with Axar and Saha having collected a single each off the first two balls.

15:55 (IST)

Fifty for Wriddhiman Saha! The keeper-batter glances at a delivery angled down leg by Somerville, coming back for a second and raising his bat to celebrate what has been a gritty knock from the Bengal cricketer. Saha had been criticised for his lack of runs in the recent past, but this knock should shut the naysayers up for a bit. IND 213/7

15:50 (IST)

After 77 overs,India 211/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 49 , Axar Patel 17)

Ajaz Patel returns to the attack. Three singles from the over, two of which are collected by Saha as he moves to 49. India’s lead is worth 260 at the end of this over.

15:46 (IST)

After 76 overs,India 208/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 47 , Axar Patel 16)

Somerville continues after the drinks interval. Two from the over. Saha moves to 47 with a single off the penultimate delivery.

15:40 (IST)

After 75 overs,India 206/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 46 , Axar Patel 15)

Saha and Axar collect a single each as Jamieson concedes two from his 17th. Drinks are out on the field at the moment, and one wonders if India will go the full distance with their batting lineup, or think of a declaration at some point.

15:33 (IST)

After 74 overs,India 204/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 45 , Axar Patel 14)

Saha guides the ball behind point off the second delivery, setting off for a single. Axar manages to block out the third delivery, in which the ball stays a touch low and threatens to sneak in under the bat and onto the stumps. One from the over.

15:30 (IST)

After 73 overs,India 203/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 44 , Axar Patel 14)

Jamieson, the pick of the New Zealand bowlers this innings with figures of 3/37, returns to the attack, replacing Southee. Starts off on a tidy note, with just one coming from it as Saha sets off for a single off the first delivery.

15:25 (IST)

After 72 overs,India 202/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 43 , Axar Patel 14)

Tidy over from Somerville, with just one coming from it as Saha sets off for a single off the first delivery.

15:24 (IST)

After 71 overs,India 201/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 42 , Axar Patel 14)

Three singles from this over. India go past the 200-mark, which looked very difficult when they were five-down for 51, with two set batters at the crease. Their lead swells to 250, already a steep target for the Kiwis.

15:18 (IST)

After 70 overs,India 198/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 40 , Axar Patel 13)

Maiden for Somerville, only the second of the innings for the off-spinner, as Axar decides to block his way through the over.

15:16 (IST)

Players with a ton and fifty on Test debut

List of players with century and fifty-plus on Test debut:

K Ranjitsinhji
G Gunn
H Collins
P Gibb
L Rowe
R Redmond
C Greenidge
Azhar Mahmood
L Vincent
S Styris
Yasir Hameed
A Strauss
A Cook
Umar Akmal
F Du Plessis
S IYER #INDvsNZTestSeries#CricketTwitter

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 28, 2021

15:15 (IST)

After 69 overs,India 198/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 40 , Axar Patel 13)

FOUR! Rare bad delivery from Southee as a full delivery going down leg is promptly dispatched towards the fine leg fence by Saha, who moves to 40 in the process. Axar had collected a single a couple of deliveries before the boundary to move to 13. Partnership worth 31 at the moment.

15:11 (IST)

After 68 overs,India 193/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 36 , Axar Patel 12)

Two runs from the over, with Saha and Axar collecting a single each. India’s lead, meanwhile, is nearing the 250-mark at the moment and every run from hereon is a bonus that gives the bowling unit extra cushion.

15:11 (IST)

After 67 overs,India 191/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 35 , Axar Patel 11)

No change from the other end as Southee continues. Single to Saha off the first ball. Axar moves to double figures with a brace off the penultimate delivery, cutting the ball through backward point. Three from the over.

15:00 (IST)

After 66 overs,India 188/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 34 , Axar Patel 9)

Somerville brought back, replacing Jamieson. Saha collects a double off the second delivery, playing a late cut towards third man. Somerville switches to round the wicket to Saha, getting the batter’s outside edge in the fourth delivery, with the ball deflecting off the keeper’s gloves to allow a single to be pinched. Three from the over.

14:56 (IST)

After 65 overs,India 185/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 31 , Axar Patel 9)

Saha collects a single off the first ball, before Axar collects his second boundary of the innings with an exquisite straight drive. Southee lands the ball on a crack along full length outside off in the third delivery. What was angling into the batter suddenly straightens with an upright seam and catches Axar off guard. That should be an area of interest for the Indian bowlers. Axar himself will have taken note of it. Five from the over.

14:52 (IST)

After 64 overs,India 180/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 30 , Axar Patel 5)

A dot off each of the first four deliveries, before Axar goes for a drive off the fifth, collecting only a single after a fine stop at mid off. Saha keeps the strike with a single off the last delivery. The keeper-bat moves to 30 now.

14:51 (IST)

After 63 overs,India 178/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 29 , Axar Patel 4)

Saha collects a brace off the fourth delivery of this over with a well-timed punch through cover. Four from the over.

14:43 (IST)

After 62 overs,India 176/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 27 , Axar Patel 4)

FOUR! Saha moves to 26 as he steers the ful delivery from Jamieson that stays low, guiding it past gully. Works the ball towards fine leg off the next ball for a single. Axar gets off the mark with a boundary off the last ball, getting on the backfoot and going for the ‘Nataraj Pull’ towards the square leg fence. Nine from the over.

14:37 (IST)

After 61 overs,India 167/7 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 22 , Axar Patel 0)

Southee completes his 16th over, collecting four dots in a row as Axar chooses to block/leave his way through the over after joining Saha at the crease.

14:35 (IST)

Axar walks out to bat alongside Saha as players make their way back to the ground after the tea interval. Southee to complete his 16th over after a boundary and a wicket off the first two balls.

14:17 (IST)

After 60.2 overs,India 167/7 (  Wriddhiman Saha (W) 22)

OUT! Shreyas Iyer falls for the leg side trap just one delivery after collecting his eighth boundary with a lovely on drive through midwicket. Southee pulled his length while bowling this down leg, and Iyer ends up getting a bit of glove to the ball while looking for a pull. End of a crucial innings from the man who had earlier brought up a ton on Test debut.

With that, it's Tea on Day 4, with India 167/7 at the interval, their lead worth 216 at the moment.

Iyer c Blundell b Southee 65(125)

14:10 (IST)

After 60 overs,India 163/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 61 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 22)

Jamieson returns, replacing Patel with the Black Caps hoping to break the partnership before the session concludes. Iyer taps the ball towards cover to set off for a quick single first ball, the only run conceded in this over. Looks like New Zealand will be able to slot in another Southee over before tea.

14:05 (IST)

After 59 overs,India 162/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 60 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 22)

Tidy over from Southee with two coming from it as Saha tucking the ball towards square leg for a single off the fourth ball, before Iyer collects a quick single off the last delivery to keep the strike. Another five minutes to go for tea.

14:00 (IST)

After 58 overs,India 160/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 59 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 21)

Iyer decides to attack the spinner after Southee’s over, collecting a couple of boundaries off Patel’s bowling. Goes for an inside out lofted drive over extra cover off the second delivery, bringing up the fifty stand with Saha, before smacking the ball behind point three balls later. Eight from the over.

13:56 (IST)

FOUR! Iyer charges down the track against Ajaz, going for a lofted inside out shot over extra cover to bring up the fifty stand with Saha with a boundary! IND 156/6
 

13:55 (IST)

After 57 overs,India 152/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 51 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 21)

Tim Southee returns to the attack, replacing Somerville. The lead has crossed 200 and every run collected from here will only add to their worries, and skipper Williamson will be hoping for another two-three wicket burst from Southee to try and restrict the hosts. Just one from this over.

13:52 (IST)

What a player!

Shreyas Iyer is the first Indian to hit a ton & a fifty on Test debut

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 28, 2021

13:52 (IST)

Part of an exclusive club now

Indian players scoring 50-plus runs in both the innings of a debut Test:

Dilawar Hussain
Sunil Gavaskar
Shreyas Iyer* #INDvNZ

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 28, 2021

13:50 (IST)

After 56 overs,India 151/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 50 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 21)

Iyer collects a single off the third ball to make his Test debut even more special, following up his century in the first innings with a hard-fought fifty on the fourth day, collecting five boundaries and a six along the way. India’s lead also touches the 200-mark now.

13:48 (IST)

Fifty up for Shreyas Iyer off 108 deliveries! What a Test debut this is turning out to be for the young man, who is playing a crucial role for the team at the moment. Iyer becomes the first Indian male cricketer to score a century and fifty on Test debut, and only the third male Indian cricketer to score two fifty-plus scores on debut. IND 151/6

13:38 (IST)

After 53 overs,India 145/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 45 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 20)

Two singles from the first four deliveries of Somerville’s seventh. Couple of byes added to the total as the ball stays low after pitching along leg, going under Saha’s bat and beating both the keeper and leg slip. Saha goes for a wild heave over midwicket off the last ball, but only gets a single. Five from the over.

13:34 (IST)

After 52 overs,India 140/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 44 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 18)

SIX! Iyer too will not hold himself back against the spinners when the opportunity for a big hit presents itself. Loopy delivery from Ajaz, and Iyer decides to have a go at it, charging down the track and smashing it over the bowler’s head for a straight six. Couple of single collected off the remaining deliveries. Iyer moves to the 40s now.

13:32 (IST)

After 51 overs,India 132/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 37 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 17)

Good over from Somerville, keeping things tidy in this over by giving away just one after going for 10 in his previous over.

13:26 (IST)

After 50 overs,India 131/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 36 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 17)

Tidy over from Patel with just one coming from it, as Iyer sets off for a single in the first delivery, moving to 36 in the process.

13:25 (IST)

After 49 overs,India 130/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 35 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 17)

Somerville continues from the Media End. Saha decides to take the risk in the fourth delivery, charging down the pitch and going for a heave towards midwicket, where the ball brushes through the fielder’s fingers before running away to the boundary. The wicketkeeper-bat is not done with the boundary though, as he goes for a slog sweep next ball, this time clearing the midwicket fence. 10 from the over.

13:19 (IST)

After 48 overs,India 120/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 35 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 7)

Change in personnel on the other side of the drinks interval as Ajaz Patel replaces Jamieson from the River End. Starts his new spell with a maiden. Iyer does well to bring his bat down in time while attempting a cut in the third delivery as the ball had straightened and could have sneaked in past his defence and onto the stumps.

13:14 (IST)

After 47 overs,India 120/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 35 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 7)

Just one from the over, with Iyer guiding the ball down the ground for a single off the second delivery, as drinks are brought out to the field at the end of Somerville’s second over of the current spell. Iyer and Saha steadily accumulating runs at the moment, with the current partnership worth 17 off 46 deliveries. India’s lead, meanwhile, is 169 and anything above 200 will be a cause for concern for the visitors.

13:12 (IST)

After 46 overs,India 119/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 34 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 7)

Another maiden for Jamieson, his sixth in 12 overs as he continues to pepper Saha with the short stuff.

13:04 (IST)

After 45 overs,India 119/6 ( Shreyas Iyer 34 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 7)

Somerville in place of Ravindra now. Single to Iyer off the first ball. Saha waits for the ball to climb two balls later, playing a late cut and coming back for a second as short third gives the ball a chase. Full toss swatted down the ground for a single as Saha keeps the strike.