KANPUR, India, Nov 29, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Debutant Rachin Ravindra worked
with New Zealand's lower order to pull off a dramatic draw against India
after they ended day five on 165-9 while chasing 284 in the first Test on
Monday.

   New Zealand faltered after overnight batsman Tom Latham (52) and later
skipper Kane Williamson (24) departed, but still denied India a win after a
tense final session in Kanpur.

   Left-handed Ravindra, a Wellington-born all-rounder of Indian origin who
made 18, put on key partnerships including an eighth-wicket stand of 46
deliveries with Kyle Jamieson.

   He then held fort for 52 balls with Ajaz Patel before the umpires ended
play due to bad light.

   Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin shared seven wickets between them
to hurt New Zealand in their chase but the 22-year-old Ravindra, who went
wicketless with his left-arm spin, made the match that ebbed and flowed his
own.

   "It has been touch and go around this time throughout the game," said
Williamson, who led New Zealand to the inaugural world Test championship
title in June after beating India in the final.

   "Terrific game overall. All three results were still at play. We showed a
lot of heart to bat through the day. Some fantastic experiences for Rachin,
Ajaz and (William) Somerville."

   The Kiwis slipped to 138-7 in the 79th over when Ravindra brought back the
fight, with Jamieson for company.

   The left-handed Latham and nightwatchman 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.

   The wicket took Ashwin past veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh's tally
of 417 wickets. Former spinner Anil Kumble leads the Indian wicket-takers
list with 619, followed by Kapil Dev with 434.

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

   Debutant Shreyas Iyer stood out for India with his 105 and 65 in India's
345 and 237-4 declared.

   Iyer was named man of the match for his batting heroics after India won
the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that stayed low and slow but
held on for five days.

   "I am really happy for Shreyas. He had to wait a long time for his Test
debut. He batted really well," said Rahane.

   "The way he works, his record in first class cricket is really good."