New Delhi: New Zealand created history as they defeated India by 25 runs in the third and final Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to clean sweep the three-match series 3-0. New Zealand became the first team to whitewash India 3-0 in a three-match Test series at home. It was an embarrassing defeat for India as the hosts got whitewashed in a three-match Test series for the first time at home.
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel ran riot with the ball during India’s pursuit of the tricky target of 147 runs in their 2nd innings on Day 3 as he picked up a six-wicket haul to help the Kiwis bundle out the hosts for a paltry 121 runs. Patel dismissed Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in successive overs to jolt India’s chase before running through their middle order to finish with excellent figures of 6/57 in 14.1 overs.
India started Day 3 strongly with Ravindra Jadeja dismissing tail-ender Patel cheaply on 8 early in the morning session to bundle out the visitors for 174 runs in their second innings. While the target of 147 runs was a tricky one, not many expected India to surrender the way they did in their second innings as the hosts suffered another terrible batting collapse in Mumbai.
Skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed after scoring 11 trying to go after pacer Matt Henry, who got him caught by Glenn Phillips before Patel got rid of Gill in Kohli in successive overs to reduce India to 18/3 inside just 6 overs. Rishabh Pant turned out to be a lone warrior for India with a brilliant knock of 64 runs. However, it was not enough as India eventually fell short by 25 runs in the 147-run chase.
After the top failed to fire, the onus was on Sarfaraz Khan to deliver but the youngster’s woes against spin continued as he was undone trying to slog sweep Patel. Sarfaraz was dismissed on 1 with India losing half their side for just 29 runs on the board. Pant combined with Ravindra Jadeja (6) to bring the hosts back into the contest with a 42-run stand for the sixth wicket.
However, Patel dismissed Jadeja in the 16th over to put New Zealand back on top and create more pressure on the hosts. Pant
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Tom Latham-led New Zealand created history as they defeated India by 25 runs in the third and final Test to clean sweep the three-match series 3-0. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today