Ravindra and Southee tee off to swell New Zealand's lead

Rachin Ravindra anchored New Zealand on the third morning before breaking free • BCCI

Bengaluru, October 18:

Lunch New Zealand 345 for 7 (Ravindra 104*, Southee 49*, Jadeja 3-72) lead India 46 by 299 runs

India kept themselves in the Test with some relentless bowling for a little over 90 minutes, but Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee blew them away in the last 45 before lunch. India took four wickets for the addition of just 53 runs, but Ravindra and Southee then added an unbeaten 112 for the eighth wicket, currently the second-quickest partnership of 100-plus against India, to go to lunch with a lead of 299 runs. Ravindra raced away to his second Test century, and second international hundred in the city of his roots.

When you get bowled out for 46 and start the day 134 behind with seven wickets still to take, you need everything to go your way. After a loosener first ball, the fast-bowling duo of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah kept New Zealand honest with accurate bowling and slight nibble each way. They picked up a wicket each before Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry batted in a manner suggesting panic and lack of confidence in their defence.

Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee bashed it to all parts before the new ball was available • Getty Images

However, Southee, 89 Test sixes to his name and with a penchant for taking a swing, batted with composure to keep Ravindra company. Ravindra kept trusting his partner despite the previous two batters missing straight balls on middle stump. There was a time in the partnership when Southee had faced 16 of the 19 balls. However, Southee managed to survive, refusing to throw his bat at it.

Ravindra kept growing in confidence, hardly ever getting caught on the crease, either playing right back or meeting the ball on the half-volley. From the start of the 70th over to end of the 80th, he motored along from 48 off 87 to 104 off 125. He resumed the day on 22 off 34, took the boundary off the full ball from Siraj first ball, and then respected the good bowling even as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell offered an outside edge each to the two quicks.