Bengaluru: Rachin Ravindra smashed a classy unbeaten 104 – his second century in Test cricket – as New Zealand reached 345/7 in 81 overs and take their lead to 299 against India at lunch on day three of first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. Though New Zealand lost four wickets in the morning session, Ravindra, whose family hails from Bengaluru, got up the tempo through a breezy century filled with eye-catchy 11 fours and two sixes. After weathering the initial storm, Ravindra showcased his exceptional handling of Indian spinners by picking lengths early to play shots on front foot, back foot and down the ground, while using depth of crease well.
Tim Southee, who was not a certainty in New Zealand’s eleven not so long ago, has supported Ravindra well by making 49 not out off 50 balls through an unbroken 112-run stand for the eighth wicket. In the last four overs of the session, the duo switched gears to take 58 runs to ensure New Zealand continue to have the upper hand in the match. Ravindra, who trained at the Super Kings academy in Chennai under their coach Sriram Krishnamurthy before his tour of the sub-continent began, began day three with a nice flick off Mohammed Siraj, who got the first wicket for India in the session by having Daryl Mitchell punch straight to gully.
Tom Blundell never looked assured at the crease and edged to second slip off Jasprit Bumrah. Glenn Phillips took a four and six off Kuldeep Yadav before missing a straight delivery off Ra.