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The first Test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru has reached a thrilling climax, leaving cricket fans on the edge of their seats. India, after posting a formidable total of 462 in their second innings, set New Zealand a seemingly improbable target of 107 runs to win the match. While New Zealand's victory appears to be a mere formality, the Indian bowlers are determined to orchestrate a remarkable turnaround and defend this low target.
The match's dramatic turn of events began with India's impressive batting performance, spearheaded by Sarfaraz Khan's magnificent century (150) and Rishabh Pant's explosive knock of 99. However, the real intrigue lies in India's history of defending low scores, particularly their achievement of defending a target of 107 runs against Australia in 2004. That memorable victory saw India's spinners, led by Harbhajan Singh's five-wicket haul, dismantling the Australian batting lineup, proving that even seemingly insurmountable targets can be defended with skillful bowling.
India's current bowling attack boasts a formidable trio of spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, who have the potential to replicate their predecessors' success. The team's pace bowlers, while facing a challenging task, will also play a crucial role in keeping the New Zealand batsmen under pressure. As the final day approaches, India's bowlers will need to leverage their strengths and exploit every opportunity to create wickets, potentially turning the tide in their favor and securing a historic victory. The match promises to be a nail-biter, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as they anticipate a thrilling and unpredictable finish.
Source: 1st Test: Can India defend 107 against New Zealand on Day 5? History says…