Team India ended Day 5 with a lead of the same number of runs as New Zealand got in the first innings - 32 - after they batted for 30 overs before the close of the day's play in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. India lost both openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as scored 64 runs with skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle, going into the final day of the Test match at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.
As the day went on with the sun shining, the batting got better and better but the batsmen still had to apply themselves and grind out as New Zealand bowlers were on the money right from the get-go. Tim Southee with his movements both ways troubled the openers and set up really nicely to dismiss both of them trapping on legs in front of the wickets.
Earlier, Mohammed Shami was the star with the ball for Team India getting a four-wicket haul and help them to bowl out New Zealand for 249. Despite a middle-order collapse, skipper Kane Williamson held their batting together and played a patient innings of 49 runs that went a long way in ensuring that New Zealand got into the lead.
The lower-order cameos from Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee helped New Zealand get a lead of 32 runs, which meant the chances of an India win went further down.
Now, with 98 overs remaining on the final day of the Test match, the fans would be hoping for a result, either way, a draw is most likely on the cards as still there are eight Indian wickets to be taken for New Zealand to win and for India to win, they first have to set a decent target and then take 10 wickets.
