India left frustrated after missing out on first Test win against New Zealand

Hosts were one wicket away from victory at Kanpur when bad light stopped play meaning game ended in draw

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is trapped lbw for 24 by India's Ravindra Jadeja on the fifth and final day of the first Test at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Monday, November 29, 2021. AFP

Field umpire (C) speaks with India's players on the fifth and final day of the first Test cricket match between India and New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on November 29, 2021. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

India players appeal unsuccessfully for the wicket of New Zealand's Ajaz Patel. AP

India players after the dismissal of New Zealand's William Somerville. AFP

New Zealand's Tom Latham plays a shot on his way to 52. AP

New Zealand opener Tom Latham after being bowled by India's Ravichandaran Ashwin. AP

New Zealand's William Somerville plays a shot on his way to 36. AFP

India's Ravindra Jadeja, left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. AFP

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson plays a shot. AFP

India's Ravichandran Ashwin, centre, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand batsman Tom Blundell. AFP

New Zealand batsman Tom Blundell is bowled by India's Ravichandaran Ashwin for two. AP

India's Axar Patel, centre, celebrates with teammate Mayank Agarwal after taking the wicket of New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls. AFP

Frustrated India were left one wicket short of winning the first Test against New Zealand that ended in a dramatic draw on Monday.

Chasing a target of 284 for victory on the final day, New Zealand slumped to 155-9 with nearly nine overs to go and an upbeat India were pressing for victory in fading light.

But Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel batted resolutely to deny India and guided New Zealand to 165-9 when bad light eventually stopped play.

Asked about his chat with the umpires when the light was being checked, India captain Ajinkya Rahane said: “As a fielding team, you want to bowl more overs, as a batting unit you don't want to bat in that situation.

“The chat was about the light, but umpires made the call and I thought they were right.”

Ravindra was unbeaten on 18 runs, while tail-ender Ajaz Patel faced 23 balls to score two not out. The last-wicket partnership faced 52 deliveries to deny India victory late on the fifth day.

Ravindra Jadeja (4-40) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3-35) shone with the ball for India, but it was New Zealand's unbroken last-wicket partnership which saved the match for them.

“It has been touch and go around this time throughout this test,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said after the match, when Tom Latham top scored for his team with 52.

“The Indian side is a formidable one, they were on top for the large part, but we hung around. All three results were in play but we fought hard and showed the fight on the last day.”

Home batsman Shreyas Iyer was named man of the match for smashing a century and a fifty on his debut Test, while Ashwin moved past Harbhajan Singh’s 417 wickets and up to third on India's all-time list behind Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434), with 419.

The left-handed Latham and nightwatchman William Somerville denied India a wicket in the first session as the two put on 76 runs for the second wicket.

Somerville, who joined Latham after Will Young fell to Ashwin in the final session on Sunday, scored 36 off 110 balls but departed soon after lunch off fast bowler Umesh Yadav.

Latham, who made 95 in New Zealand's first innings total of 296, moved from his overnight two to another half-century but fell to Ashwin's off spin.

Jadeja struck at the stroke of tea to send back Ross Taylor for two and got Williamson's prized scalp for 24.

Axar Patel had Henry Nicholls (one) dismissed lbw and New Zealand’s middle order put up little resistance as Ashwin bowled Tom Blundell (two).

Kyle Jamieson (five) and Tim Southee (four) helped Ravindra eat up 11 overs before falling to Jadeja and there were just 10.4 overs remaining in the day.

The umpires checked fading light repeatedly but play carried on until the dramatic call-off with approximately two overs remaining.

Both sides earned four points for a draw in the World Test Championship. The second and final test begins in Mumbai on Friday.