New Zealand’s cricket team made history today by winning a Test match in India for the first time since 1988.
They secured an eight-wicket victory on a rain-hit final day in Bengaluru, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a modest target, New Zealand scored 110-2 despite challenges from India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who took two early wickets. Will Young and Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings with a 75-run partnership, guiding their team to victory. Young remained unbeaten on 48, while Ravindra finished on 39 not out, as they hit the winning runs just before lunch.
Bumrah gave India hope with a fiery spell, dismissing captain Tom Latham for a duck and Devon Conway for 17. But after his spell ended, the Kiwi batters took control, playing aggressively against India’s spinners. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav struggled to contain the runs, with Kuldeep conceding 8.7 runs per over.
Rain disrupted the match several times, with the first day completely washed out. On the second day, New Zealand bowled out India for just 46 runs, the home team’s lowest score ever on home soil. India fought back with 462 runs in their second innings, but New Zealand’s first-innings total of 402, including 134 from Ravindra, gave them the upper hand.
The series now moves to Pune for the second Test starting Thursday, with the final match to be played in Mumbai on November 1.
