Rachin Ravindra scored 137 in the firt innings of the Bengaluru Test vs India
Ravindra upped the tempo through a breezy century filled with eye-catching 13 fours and four sixes.
Rachin Ravindra made the Indian bowlers toil harder in Bengaluru, earning a special mention in the history of New Zealand cricket. On Friday, the all-rounder became the first New Zealand batter since 2012 to score a Test century on Indian soil.
Though New Zealand lost four wickets in the morning session, Ravindra upped the tempo through a breezy century filled with eye-catching 13 fours and 4 sixes. The 21-year-old’s century was his second in Test cricket, having scored his maiden hundred against South Africa earlier this year.
His hundred was the first by a New Zealand batter in India since Ross Taylor’s Test century at the same venue in 2012. With this innings, Ravindra became the 21st New Zealand player to notch up a Test century in India.
Ravindra’s 134 guided New Zealand to 402 and a lead of 356 against India on day three. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets each to help bowl out the visitors during the second session in Bengaluru.
Wellington-born Ravindra resumed on his overnight score of 22 and was the last New Zealand wicket to fall after smashing 13 fours and four sixes. He raised his ton with a boundary off Ravichandran Ashwin before lunch and kept up the charge during an eighth-wicket stand of 137 with Tim Southee, who smashed 65 with five fours and four sixes.
India’s quicks bowled well in the morning after New Zealand resumed on 180-3 with Mohammed Siraj taking the wicket of Daryl Mitchell, caught at gully for 18. Wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell was the next to depart with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah getting him caught at second slip for five.
Jadeja sent back Glenn Phillips for 14 and Matt Henry for eight with deliveries that skidded off the pitch to rattle the stumps.
