India end Day 3 at 231/3, trail New Zealand by 125 runs in 1st Test

BENGALURU, Oct 18 (IANS): Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan smashed counter-attacking fifties before the former got out on last ball of day three as India reached 231/3 in 49 overs at stumps and trail New Zealand by 125 runs in the first Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

After Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 72 runs for the first wicket, Sarfaraz came out all guns blazing to be unbeaten on 70 off 78 balls - laced with seven fours and three sixes. Kohli was at his usual best - driving, lofting and sweeping with ease - and became the fourth India to reach the 9000 Test run milestone during the course of his 70 off 102 balls.

But him being taken out by Glenn Phillips just before the day's play ended capped off a sensational day of Test cricket which began with Rachin Ravindra's excellent 134 giving New Zealand a 356-run first-innings lead.

The final session began with three boundaries, before the 72-run opening ended when Jaiswal stepped out against Ajaz Patel, got beaten and was easily stumped.