Sun Nov 03 04:49:21 UTC 2024: ## India Faces Tough Task After New Zealand Dominates Day 3 of Third Test
**Mumbai:** New Zealand continued their dominance in the third and final Test match against India on Day 3, leaving the home team with a mammoth task to chase down victory.
The Kiwis, holding a 143-run lead after Day 2, extended their advantage by dismissing India’s top order early in the morning session. India lost their first three wickets for just 18 runs, with Virat Kohli falling prey to Ajaz Patel once again.
While Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60) offered some resistance with a solid partnership, the Indian batting lineup crumbled under pressure, ultimately being bowled out for 263.
New Zealand, needing just one wicket to secure victory, resumed their second innings with a solid performance. William Young, who scored a half-century in their first innings, anchored the Kiwis’ batting lineup with an impressive knock. R. Ashwin (3 wickets) and Ravindra Jadeja (4 wickets) were the pick of the Indian bowlers, but they could not halt New Zealand’s progress.
With the score at 174/9, Jadeja finally dismissed Ajaz Patel, leaving India with a target of 147 runs. The match could potentially end on Day 3.
India now faces an uphill battle to save the match, needing to bat with great composure and resilience to overcome the deficit. The pressure is on the Indian batsmen to perform well in the remaining session and prevent a series clean sweep for New Zealand.
First Piper 