Before the fifth day’s play started in Southampton, New Zealand had the upper hand in the ongoing World Test Championship Final. A draw was also a likely outcome. And an outside chance for Team India to boss the game. For that to happen, India were required to clean New Zealand’s innings quick and gain a confidence-boosting lead before setting a challenging target.
Though this fantasy for India didn’t unfold this way and despite being disciplined with the ball, they ended up conceding the lead to New Zealand. Indian bowlers started the day on a good note and restricted Kiwi batsmen from running away with the game. Maiden overs came one after another but it was until Mohammed Shami came to bowl when India got their first breakthrough.
Also Read: Mohammed Shami castles BJ Watling with a jaffa
Shami was fired up throughout the day and bowled a spell to remember. He removed BJ Watling just before the lunch break and allowed India to dream for a lead. However, Kane Williamson was holding one end tight and looked like an unremovable force. He scored vital 49 runs but took 177 balls for them. And he was the only man that kept India from gaining a lead.
Tim Southee played a handy knock of 30 runs which eventually gave his team a crucial 32-run lead. Shami was the pick of the bowler with a four-fer. Ishant Sharma got three wickets while Ashwin managed a brace.
Also Read: Mohammed Shami wraps towel around his waist, watch here
In response, India began slowly and lost Shubhman Gill’s wicket before wiping out the deficit. Tim Southee removed him with a proper inswinger. Rohit Sharma looked comfortable in the middle but Southee set him up well and trapped him in front. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli were batting in the middle at the stumps of day 5. India were 64/2 at the close, 32/2 effectively.
Have a look at how Twitter reacted on the fifth day’s play;
Relatable much? 😅 #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/M9oUu7uDsj
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 22, 2021
What would India have given to have had Hardik Pandya fit and bowling in this game?
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 22, 2021
Watching India's second innings like#WTCFinal 🤞🏼 pic.twitter.com/IK3dfweZF0
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 22, 2021
If India pulled the game their way before lunch, I'm afraid New Zealand pulled it back in the next session. They can now attack safe in the belief that there isn't enough time for India to set them a stiff target. From here it is about saving the game for India
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 22, 2021
That ball by Shami to Watling…..the kind that will be remembered after this game is done and dusted.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 22, 2021
Only six Tests in the ball tracking era (2006) have seen a lower Expected Balls Per Wicket (i.e. more threatening bowling) than this. None of the six have seen a higher Actual BpW (batsman surviving the bowling) than this one. This is stupidly high quality cricket. #INDvNZ #WTC21
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) June 22, 2021
Let's do this!
Join me tomorrow morning on twitter spaces as I share my thoughts on #WTCFinal and more…you are all invited! 😉https://t.co/7MHL7RH58a— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 22, 2021
Though he hasn't made a big score opening in away Tests, Rohit Sharma has quietly seen off the new ball often. He has survived 50+ balls in five of the six innings and was dismissed inside the first 15 overs only once.
26(77)
52(98)
44(74)
7(21)
34(68)
22(53)*#WTCFinal— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 22, 2021
Good bowling by @MdShami11 & @ImIshant backed by some terrific fielding by 🇮🇳.
Crucial runs were scored by Jamieson & Southee along with Williamson.
With around 130+ overs left in the game 🇮🇳 will have to bat well if they want to put 🇳🇿 under pressure.#WTC21 | #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/zpWGdziODL
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 22, 2021
Shubman Gill will have a lot to work on his footwork, especially the back foot. The tendency to play across the line is always fraught with risk in seaming conditions. #IndvNZ #WTCFinal
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) June 22, 2021
