New Zealand added 28 runs to their overnight total to finish on 239 for eight at Old Trafford on the reserve day of their World Cup semi-final against India at Old Trafford.
The Kiwis had only 3.5 overs to swell a position of 211 for five, an attritional innings curtailed by persistent rain on Tuesday afternoon, forcing play to be deferred to Wednesday morning and pick up where they left off.
Ross Taylor added seven runs before being superbly run out by Ravindra Jadeja to depart for 74 from 90 balls, while the Kiwis only found the boundary rope once in the 23 deliveries remaining.
Nevertheless, Taylor's acceleration before the heavens opened, coupled with some hard running, saw the Black Caps add 84 in their last 10 overs to leave India needing 240 to reach the Lord's showpiece on Sunday.
Taylor and Tom Latham, resuming on three not out, initially settled for quick running between the wickets in set fair weather against Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.
However, Taylor chanced a second after clipping into the leg-side off Bumrah, taking on the arm of Jadeja, who threw down the stumps from a distance with the New Zealand batsman short of making his ground.
Good work on the field from India has kept New Zealand to 239/8 this morning. Kohli's men will need 240 if they are to seal their spot in the #CWC19 final. Who has the advantage? #CWC19 | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/oiHRxHxvhw — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 10, 2019
Jadeja was in the thick of the action off the next ball, backtracking and taking a stunning catch over his head as Latham swung big off Bhuvneshwar, who conceded the sole boundary when Mitch Santner thumped through cover for four.
In an eventful penultimate over, Matt Henry carted Bhuvneshwar high into the air, with India captain Virat Kohli taking a steepler at midwicket.
Bumrah conceded only seven from the final over in front of a sparse crowd. While those who had attended on Tuesday had entry, the ground was around two-thirds empty for the conclusion of New Zealand's innings.
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