New Zealand staved off the India challenge and managed a draw in the Kanpur Test on Monday.

The final pair of Ajaz Patel and Rachin Ravindra batted out 52 deliveries to save New Zealand as dying light ensured that the first Test ended in a draw. India began the day needing nine wickets to win the match, but Tom Latham and William Somerville denied India for one whole session, before Umesh Yadav got rid of Somerville in the second session. India got two more wickets in the session. Going into the final session of the Test, they needed six more to win the match.

The final session saw the India spinners run through the New Zealand middle and lower order, with pockets of resistance led by Tom Blundell and Kyle Jamieson. However, the real heroes of the great escape were Rachin and Ajaz, who refused to give in to Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

This result ensures that the sides go to Mumbai with the series at 0-0, where New Zealand have the historic opportunity of upending India and winning the series.

New Zealand’s effort had many fans.

Incredibly gutsy performance. Proud of all you lads! @BLACKCAPS #INDvNZ

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) November 29, 2021

And the @BLACKCAPS have further justified their position as World Test champions by doing something very few teams manage to do in India, save a Test by batting out the whole of Day 5 #IndvNZ

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 29, 2021

New Zealand are ridiculously good at test cricket

— Jimmy Ciego (@JimmyECiego) November 26, 2021

There was appreciation from an opponent too.

How good is test cricket!! 5 days, tough cricket played by both teams and it ends in a draw. That’s why we love it. Can’t wait for the 2nd test in Mumbai. #india #newzealand I can’t wait for the Ashes!! https://t.co/AHZhLmqOCB

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) November 29, 2021

Former India players also showered praise on New Zealand.

Great resilience from New Zealand to save the Test match.
It is for a reason that they are the World Test Championship winners. All the action today once again proved that Test cricket is best cricket. #IndvNZ

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) November 29, 2021

Test Cricket is best cricket. Epic effort by New Zealand to save the test match. Well tried India. Mumbai should be a cracker.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 29, 2021

For the home side, it was a story of so near yet so far.

So Near Yet So Far.

The first #INDvNZ Test in Kanpur ends in a draw. @Paytm #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/dGckU0uBjl

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 29, 2021

Imagine naming your kid Rachin Ravindra – after Sachin & Rahul – and him growing up to play cricket & earning world champions New Zealand a draw in his debut Test as cricketer, denying Dravid on his debut Test as India coach by 1 wicket. Scenes! #INDvNZ #KanpurTest

— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) November 29, 2021

But in the end, cricket had won.

By the slimmest of edges, by the odd millimetre here and there after five days of cricket. Survival such a great attribute. Have to love test cricket!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 29, 2021