New Zealand win their first Test in India since 1988

BENGALURU, India (AP) — New Zealand survived a tough fightback and a superb performance from Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah to win its first Test on Indian soil since 1988.

New Zealand scored 110-2 on a rainy final day on Sunday, beating India by eight wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Will Young and Rachin Ravindra formed a 75-run partnership for the third wicket and completed a famous win after another early morning rain.

Young remained unbeaten on 48 runs off 76 balls, scoring six fours and a six, while Ravindra was unbeaten on 39 runs off 46 deliveries, scoring six fours.

Bumrah finished with 2-29 after a stunning outing that nullified both of the Black Caps’ openers and also repeatedly beat the outside edge of the batters, but India failed to find the luck they desperately needed to move into the Kiwis’ batting order .

After the first day passed, India bowed out in the first innings at home with their lowest Test score – 46 runs on the second day. It recovered by 462 runs in the second innings, but New Zealand’s first innings of 402 runs – including 134 from Ravindra – kept the tourists ahead throughout.

Early on Sunday, the match started an hour late due to morning rain in Bengaluru.

Bumrah caught captain Tom Latham for a duck on the second ball of the morning. Latham checked, but the TV referee’s decision went against him.

It was a difficult opening spell for the batters as Devon Conway never looked comfortable against Bumrah. He was out for 17 runs in the 13th over as New Zealand were reduced to 35-2.

But Young and Ravindra calmed the nerves of the tourist dressing room with their attacking spirit and fine stroke play.

Once Bumrah’s spell was over, they settled down and attacked the Indian spinners. Kuldeep Yadav managed 8.7 runs per over in his short reign and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t do much better.

The pair scored 50 off 51 balls and put New Zealand on target 10 minutes before lunch in the extended morning session when Young played a cut shot for four off Jadeja.

The second match of the three-Test series will be played in Pune from Thursday and the final match will be played in Mumbai from November 1.

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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket