New Zealand did not enforce the follow-on despite getting a lead of 301 runs. This was the third time a New Zealand captain did not enforce the follow-on despite being entitled to do so. John Reid (vs South Africa at Cape Town in 1961-62) and Stephen Fleming (vs West Indies at Bridgetown in 2002) provided the other two such instances. New Zealand won both these games.
New Zealand’s total of 105 is the lowest by any side against India since December 2006 when South Africa were dismissed for 84 at Johannesburg.
New Zealand’s total of 105 is the second lowest total for a side not enforcing the follow-on. South Africa were bowled out for 99 vs Australia at Durban in 1949-50.
The difference of 398 runs between New Zealand’s two innings (503 and 105) is the second highest for any side in a Test against India. West Indies had a disparity of 456 runs (590 and 134) at Mumbai in 2011-12. Interestingly that match ended in a thrilling draw with scores level.
Ish Sodhi was caught by Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Ishant Sharma in both innings. He provided the first instance of a player getting dismissed twice by a combination of two same surname players.
Ishant’s Sharma’s match figures of 9 for 162 are the second best for India in New Zealand after Erapalli Prasanna’s 11 for 140 also at Auckland in 1975-76. Incidentally the previous best figures by an Indian fast bowler in New Zealand were Zaheer Khan’s 7 for 122 at Wellington in 2008-09.
In first innings New Zealand lost their third wicket with 30 runs on the board, in second innings they lost their third wicket with 11 runs on the board. There have been only three other instances when opponents lost first three wickets with 30 runs (or less) on the board– vs Australia at Kolkata in 1956-57, vs Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2004-05 and at Mirpur in 2007.
India’s highest successful fourth innings chase is 406 for four against West Indies at Port-of-Spain in 1975-76. Their highest successful chase against New Zealand is 262 for five at Bangalore in 2012.
Incidentally the highest successful chase on New Zealand soil is 348 for five by West Indies also at Auckland in 1968-69.
