New Zealand did not lose a single wicket in the first session on the final day, with nightwatchman Will Somerville showing his mettle by giving great support to Tom Latham.
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17 years ago, during the Chennai Test between Australia and India, Jason Gillespie frustrated India as a nightwatchman for over two hours. That rearguard action allowed Damien Martyn to compile a fine century and ensure Australia was in the contest in 2004. In 2021, Will Sommerville channeled his inner Jason Gillespie to pull off a fine rearguard action in the first session on the final day of the Kanpur Test against India. The unbeaten partnership of 76 between Tom Latham and Somerville has ensured India will not have it easy in winning the Kanpur Test.
It was a fantastic effort yet again from the Kiwis on a pitch that continued to assist the spinners in a big way. In the first innings, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin were the major tormentors as India managed a 49-run lead. But, on day 4, there were indications that the pitch had started to ease off. Despite losing Will Young at the fag end in an unlucky fashion, Somerville and Latham have ensured that New Zealand still has a chance of saving the match. In all likelihood, a chance of a famous win cannot be ruled out however faint it might be.
A wicketless session for a visiting team, that too on a dustbowl like Kanpur on the final day is a true testament of New Zealand’s fighting spirit. Resuming at 4/1 and still reeling from the non-referral the day before, India had their tails up. But, in the very first over, the hosts suffered a jolt. Ishant Sharma hurt his finger and walked off the field. However, with spin being the key, it was not going to be much of a loss for India.
Latham got going with a boundary off Ashwin while Somerville, having survived some nervy moments, struck a straight drive off Umesh Yadav to get some confidence. As Somerville tightened his defensive technique, the confidence grew. In the 12th over, he smashed two boundaries off Umesh to outscore Latham.
The pitch was now starting to give uneven bounce, with Ashwin and Ishant exploiting it well. Three times in two overs, Somerville and Latham were asked some uncomfortable questions but they resisted. However, with the passage of time, both players started tackling the spinners well.
India was starting to get desperate. They wasted a review against Latham as Ravindra Jadeja appealed, with the impact of the delivery way outside off. After the drinks break, Somerville and Latham showed tremendous application. Ashwin was troubling the batsmen with the delivery that was going straight on. Somerville, in particular, was being troubled by the flat, straight delivery by Ashwin. But, he held firm and ensured New Zealand went into the lunch break without losing a wicket.
In the past, India has declared in the third innings with a target of fewer than 300 20 times. The key stat in this was that they have won only once. But, that was during the Lord’s Test against England in 2021. In the remaining instances, India has drawn 18 times and never lost. New Zealand will be keen to change that stat and break their own 33-year jinx in the country.
