World Test Championship

Persistent rain and bad light have forced the match into the reserve day with India going to stumps on Day 5 at 64/2 on Tuesday with a lead of 32 runs. Openers Shubman Gill (8 off 33 balls) and Rohit Sharma (30 off 81 balls) were both dismissed by New Zealand pace bowler Tim Southee. Skipper Virat Kohli (8 off 12 balls) and Cheteshwar Pujara (12 off 55 balls) were unbeaten at the draw of stumps.

"Just to let you know, two individuals have been identified and removed from the venue for their conduct. Thanks for taking the time to contact @ajarrodkimber and I, we really don't stand for that sort of behaviour in cricket," tweeted Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager -- Marketing and Communications, in response to a complaint by a TV viewer, Dominic da Souza.

Openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma were both dismissed by pace bowler Tim Southee. Skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were unbeaten at the draw of stumps. Earlier, New Zealand could eke out only a 32-run lead in the first innings as India, powered by pacer Mohammed Shami's four-wicket haul, dismissed the Kiwis for 249 on the fifth day of the rain-hit World Test Championship final here on Tuesday.

Besides the fourth day, the first day was also washed out. The second and the third days were affected by bad light. New Zealand were 102/2 after the end of Bumrah's over. Kane Williamson (12) and Ross Taylor (0) were at the crease.

At close of play, captain Kane Williamson was batting on 12 (37 balls, 1x4). Devon Conway (54, 222 minutes, 153 balls, 6x4s) was out just moments before the umpires decided that the light was not good enough for play. Mohammad Shami superbly caught Conway at mid-on off Ishant Sharma to sort of make up for going wicketless despite bowling brilliantly.

Skipper Virat Kohli was batting on 44 (124 balls) and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane on 29 (79 balls). The two have so far added 58 runs for the fourth wicket. The match that had gone well in the first half saw interruptions in the second half. India were 120/3 when they were forced to take an early tea break due to poor visibility. There were two more breaks due to poor light post-tea.

The WTC final, which is being played in front of a crowd of 4,000, had suffered a significant loss of play on Friday after the entire first day was washed out. While things went fine in the first half of the second day, poor visibility affected the latter half. Players had to take early tea at 3.10 pm local time and returned half an hour later.

India captain Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 35 off 94 deliveries while his deputy Ajinkya Rahane was on 13 off 54 deliveries as they battled it out against a disciplined New Zealand, who had won the toss and elected to bowl. Openers Rohit Sharma (34 off 68 balls) and Shubman Gill (28 off 64 balls) had provided a solid start of 62 in 20 overs as New Zealand bowlers struggled for the ideal line early on.

India have stuck to the playing eleven they had announced on Thursday. While India are going in with two spinners and three pace bowlers, the Kiwis have four pacers and no spinner in their attack. The toss took place on the second day after the first day's play was washed out due to rain. As many as 98 overs are scheduled to be bowled on Saturday. The Test will run into the reserve day on June 23.

"Kane is very reserved, excellent player. He is very smart and strategic. Virat brings passion and leads from the front. Kane and Virat, as players, are two of the best batters in the world. Let us see how they manage themselves in the big stage like that," said former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith who predicted New Zealand as winners.