NEW DELHI: Sarfaraz Khan played an impressive 150 innings while Rishabh Pant added a quick 99, taking India to a total of 462 in their second innings and setting New Zealand a target of 107 on the fourth day of the opening Test in Bengaluru on Saturday.
But just as New Zealand began their chase in the final session, rain halted play and ended the day’s action prematurely. The visitors only faced four balls in the second innings with openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway yet to score.
The big question on every fan’s mind now is: Can India pull off a miracle on the last day and defend 107 runs against New Zealand?
While it appears to be New Zealand’s advantage at the moment, India’s pacers have some support and with the spin trio Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in the lineup, a miracle is still possible.
Interestingly, India’s lowest ever target in a Test match is 107 runs, achieved against Australia (93) at Wankhede in 2004, where spinners took nine wickets, including Harbhajan Singh’s five wickets.
Lowest goal defended in Test cricket
Overall, Australia holds the record for the lowest defended score in Test history, managing to defend just 85 runs against England at The Oval in 1882. England were bowled out by 77 runs in pursuit of this target.
India’s performance against Australia in 2004 is the third lowest total ever defended in Test cricket, after the West Indies, who defended a target of 99 runs against Zimbabwe in Port of Spain in 2000 by bowling them out by just 63 runs hit.