Khan scores his maiden century for India as the home side fights back against New Zealand

Sarfaraz Khan scored his maiden century as India continued its comeback on the fourth day of the first cricket test against New Zealand.

Khan was unbeaten on 125 runs off 154 balls as India reached 344-3 in its second innings before rain intervened. Rishabh Pant was also batting on 53 runs, with the hosts still trailing by 12 runs.

Lunch was called early by 10 minutes as the duo added 113 runs off 132 balls for the unbeaten fourth wicket to continue India’s turnaround after it had been bowled out for just 46 runs in its first innings.

New Zealand scored 402 runs in its first innings, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 134 runs, taking a lead of 356 runs. India had lost Virat Kohli for 70 runs on the last ball of day three and began from its overnight score of 231-3.

Coming into the second test as a replacement for injured Shubman Gill, Khan achieved his maiden hundred in only the fourth test. By lunch on day four, he had hit 16 fours and three sixes before rain stopped his charge.

Meanwhile, Pant scored his 18th test half-century off 55 deliveries. Together, the duo put on 100 off just 120 balls as India looked to turn the game around.

But Bengaluru's weather intervened — the fourth day began under a dark sky with the constant threat of rain, and it arrived shortly before the scheduled lunch break. Rain washed out all play on the first day on Wednesday.

India leads the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but assure its spot for the final at Lord’s next June. India recently beat Bangladesh 2-0.

New Zealand has already been on a long subcontinental tour. It began with a washed-out test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka.

The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting next Thursday and the final one in Mumbai from Nov. 1.

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