New Zealand win Mumbai Test to seal series whitewash in India

New Zealand defeated India in Mumbai on Sunday, completing a 3-0 series win and handing India their first-ever three-Test whitewash at home.

The match was on a knife’s edge heading into the third day at the Wankhede Stadium, with the visitors 143 runs ahead but with one wicket in hand.

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The Black Caps managed to add just three runs to their overnight total before Ajaz Patel slogged Ravindra Jadeja to deep wicket for the spinner’s 10th wicket.

With 147 runs needed to salvage some dignity from what was already an embarrassing series loss for India, the home side was quickly in trouble despite a healthy run rate.

Rohit Sharma fell first for a run-a-ball 11, which triggered a five-wicket collapse that left India floundering at 29/5.

It also brought Rishabh Pant to the crease, and the wicketkeeper-batsman seemed set to be India’s hero as he sent Patel sailing over the boundary on just his third ball faced.

While wickets tumbled at the other end, Pant continued to motor along, looking a lot like the Pant who scored 99 runs in the first Test.

A controversial overturned decision — where the third umpire deemed that a minute blip on UltraEdge came from bat on ball, rather than bat on pad — sent Pant back to the sheds for 64 from 57, however, and hopes of winning the Test with it.

Washington Sundar (12) and Ravichandran Ashwin (8) briefly threatened, with the pair taking India to within 26 runs of the target.

But the spin of Patel (6/57) and Glenn Phillips (3/42) would not be denied, with the latter taking back-to-back wickets before Patel took the winning scalp.

After the match, winning captain Tom Latham credited his side’s adaptiveness and a range of individuals standing up across the historic series victory.

“Very, very ecstatic,” he said.

“Looking back at the start of the series and to be in this position.

“Boys have done a very good job and to finally to do it here in Mumbai, we were challenged with bat and ball.

“Very happy. Just being able to adapt to each ground.

“There is no one way of doing things — the seamers did the job in Bangalore, different guys stood up at different times.

“More contributions we were looking for. Last week it was Mitch (Santner), this time it was Ajaz.

“We wanted to come here and try and fire a few shots.

“Tried to be aggressive with the bat, be proactive and with the ball, keep it simple.”

The victory keeps New Zealand alive in the World Test Championship race, with a 3-0 sweep of England at home likely to hand them a finals berth.

Cricket bookmakers are yet to release odds for England’s Tour of New Zealand, which starts on November 28 in Christchurch.

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