Cricket: New Zealand on brink of historic victory

New Zealand are just 107 runs away from an historic victory against India in the first Test in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Cricket bookmakers are offering -714.29 for a Kiwi victory heading into the final day, where New Zealand will resume their fourth innings on 0/0 after bad light ended play early on Saturday.

The fourth day began with India recovering impressively, having been bowled out for 46 earlier in the Test.

Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99) took India to 408/3, giving the hosts a 52-run lead before Khan holed out to Tim Southee off the bowling of Ajaz Patel.

Khan’s wicket triggered a collapse reminiscent of India’s first innings, with seven wickets falling for 54 runs as Pant chopped on one run short of his century, and the remainder of the batting lineup offered little.

Seamers William O’Rourke and Matt Henry were again the stars of the show, taking six wickets between them after claiming nine in the first innings.

“I was lucky enough to get a wee chop on there [from Pant] to give us a bit of momentum going through,” said O’Rourke of his effort on day four.

“He [Sarfaraz] played me really well.

“With that angle of me sort of falling away, it sort of opens up that little dab shot.

“Maybe we could have been in the game a little bit, but he played it so well.

“I would have liked to be a little bit tighter.

“Obviously, one of his strengths is that [the late cut].

“I would have liked to be a little bit tighter, but I was missing a little bit wide, and he put me away.

“So, credit to him.”

Despite the Indian fightback, New Zealand now have 10 wickets and three sessions to chase down a target of 107.

The biggest concern for the visitors will be the weather, with intermittent rain forecast for Sunday in Bengaluru.

Still, sports betting sites are confident that the Black Caps will find time to chase down the target, putting the odds of a draw at -625.

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