A gloomy morning on the fourth day of the first Test compelled skipper Tom Latham to opt for two pacers at the start of the morning session. Overnight batter Sarfaraz Khan was joined in by a well-recovered Rishabh Pant, a duo that negated the pace attack nonchalantly. The former kept attacking the bowlers, especially opening the third man region to either side of the batters before his partner almost allowed the opposition to break the building stand.
Henry continued from one end after the first change in the morning in Tim Southee. The former bowled on a good length and wide outside the stumps on the first ball of the 56th over that Sarfaraz cut away towards deep backward point. Rishabh Pant, from the non-striker’s end, was late to opt for the run but hastened to cover up with a double. However, Devon Conway from the deep covered the ground quickly before a poor loopy throw at the keeper’s end. Simultaneously, Pant was seen sent back by the Mumbaikar halfway through the crease, creating a sudden chaos in the field. Blundell, who grabbed the ball had a clear chance of running out Pant but ended up with a poor throw from a couple of yard’s distance, in the heat of the mix-up. Subsequently, Sarfaraz was seen reprimanding Pant for the latter’s carelessness which could lead to a run out, prompting the Twitterverse to abuzz.
Almost messed it!
— deca coorn (@DCoorn74987) October 19, 2024
He was adamant
The way Sarfraz jumps to say No for the 2nd run to Pant is cute. #IndiaVsNewZealand #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/t0712b0ZEx
— Arshad (@xByZero) October 19, 2024
Not good for heart
Watching Sarfraz and Pant batting together 🙃 pic.twitter.com/njzKwydjlY
— Paresh Patil (@parepatil) October 19, 2024
Mixed it up
#IndvNZ Huge MIX UP!!!
It was game over for Pant…
The throw came weak and ahead of the stumps…
Sarfaraz has a heated conversation with Pant… pic.twitter.com/h57kPCIh5Q— Anurag Sinha (@anuragsinha1992) October 19, 2024
Moment!
MOMENT OF THE DAY. 📸😄
– Sarfaraz khan trying to stop Rishabh Pant from taking the 2nd Run. pic.twitter.com/oDBLQuvG6o— Sports With Naveen (@sportscey) October 19, 2024
Need of the hour
#INDvNZ #sarfarazkhan #rishabhpanth #ViratKohli𓃵
Virat Kohli is out now Sarfraz is about to score 100, now Rishabh Pant will also have to play a big innings, then something will happen in this match pic.twitter.com/SEzU9YXz2p— SURESH 🔥 (@SureshSind3544) October 19, 2024
lol
Rohit reaction on that Pant-Sarfraz fumble 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Mukesh (@the_fallen_folk) October 19, 2024
Nice
Sarfraz & Pant batting 😍😍😍 Rohit’s little brothers ❤
— TVK Das 🇪🇸 (@TVK_Das) October 19, 2024
Bang on
Sarfraz playing like pant 🙏🏻😭
— Yuvraj Singh (@wtfxyuviii) October 19, 2024
Blockbuster
Sarfraz and pant on a Saturday morning test is blockbuster !#INDvsNZ
— Santhosh Kumar (@santhosh_econ) October 19, 2024
