BENGALURU, India (AP) — Sarfaraz Khan scored his maiden century as India continued their comeback on the fourth day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand.

Khan was unbeaten on 125 runs off 154 balls as India reached 344-3 in the second innings before rain intervened. Rishabh Pant also hit 53 runs as the hosts were still 12 runs behind.

Lunch was called 10 minutes early as the duo added 113 runs from 132 balls for the unbeaten fourth wicket to continue India’s turnaround after being bowled out for just 46 runs in the first innings.

New Zealand scored 402 runs in the first innings, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 134 runs, to take a 356-run lead. India had lost Virat Kohli by 70 runs on the last ball of day three and started from the overnight score of 231-3.

Khan came on in the second Test as a replacement for the injured Shubman Gill and achieved his first hundred in just the fourth Test. By lunch on day four he had hit sixteen fours and three sixes before rain stopped his attack.

Meanwhile, Pant scored his 18th Test half-century off 55 deliveries. Together, the duo put on 100 off just 120 balls as India looked to turn the game around.

But the weather in Bengaluru intervened: the fourth day started under dark skies with the constant threat of rain, arriving shortly before the scheduled lunch break. Rain ruined all the play on the first day of play on Wednesday.

India top the World Test Championship standings and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but secure their place in the Lord’s final next June. India recently defeated Bangladesh 2-0.

New Zealand has already had a long subcontinental tour. It started with a failed Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 loss in Sri Lanka.

The second match in the three-Test series will be played in Pune from next Thursday and the last in Mumbai from November 1.

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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket