India's collapse leaves New Zealand needing 107 runs to win first test

BENGALURU, India (AP) — New Zealand was left needing 107 runs to win its first test on Indian soil since 1988 after the home side collapsed in the final session Saturday despite a tremendous fightback from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant.

At stumps on rain-affected Day 4, the Black Caps were yet to open their account in their second innings when darkness stopped play.

India lost seven wickets for just 54 runs in its second innings, collapsing to 462 all out in 99.3 overs. Pacer Will O’Rourke picked 3-92, while Matt Henry took 3-102 to end the Indian threat.

The fightback was centered around a 177-run partnership between Khan and Pant. Khan scored his first test century — 150 runs off 195 balls — while Pant was bowled for 99 runs.

India had been bowled out for its lowest score in tests on home soil — 46 — in the first innings. New Zealand had replied with 402 runs, a lead of 356 runs.

After lunch, when India was placed at 344-3, there was another rain delay and 24 overs were lost.

When play resumed, Khan and Pant continued their unbeaten 113-run partnership.

Khan became the third Indian batter to score a duck and 150-plus runs in the same test. He achieved this feat in the second innings off 194 balls.

Earlier, he had reached his maiden hundred off 110 balls, sparking celebrations. He had resumed from overnight 70 not out and throughout counter-attacked the New Zealand bowling.

Overall, Khan hit 18 fours and three sixes, while Pant smacked nine fours and five sixes.

That ended as New Zealand took the second new ball before tea and got the breakthrough.

Tim Southee had Khan caught in the 85th over, but the big moment came when O’Rourke bowled Pant in the 89th.

It ushered in India’s collapse, with the lower-middle order unable to resist the new ball.

O’Rourke had Lokesh Rahul caught behind for 12, while Ravindra Jadeja was out for five.

Henry trapped Ravichandran Ashwin lbw for 15 and then removed the tailenders in the space of six deliveries. India lost its last six wickets for 29 runs across 68 deliveries.

Rain prevented any further play after just four deliveries in the Kiwi innings. Jasprit Bumrah had a loud lbw shout turned down against Tom Latham as India lost a review.

The lowest India has defended to win a test on home soil is 107 runs against Australia at Mumbai in 2004.

India leads the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but assure its spot for the final at Lord’s next June. India recently beat Bangladesh 2-0.

New Zealand has already been on a long subcontinental tour. It began with a washed-out test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka.

The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting next Thursday and the final one in Mumbai from Nov. 1.

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

India's Jasprit Bumrah appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of New Zealand's captain Tom Latham during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's captain Rohit Sharma, third right, reacts after bad light stopped play on the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Groundsmen pull on the covers after rain stopped play on the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Jasprit Bumrah, right, appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of New Zealand's captain Tom Latham, left, during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Rishabh Pant, left, celebrates with batting partner Sarfaraz Khan after scoring fifty runs during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Sarfaraz Khan, left, celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Rishabh Pant, facing camera, hugs batting partner Sarfaraz Khan to congratulate him on scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Sarfaraz Khan, left, and Rishabh Pant encourage each other during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Sarfaraz Khan, right, and Rishabh Pant run between the wickets to score during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The person who died in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel was an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, three U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Two law enforcement officials identified the man inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck as Matthew Livelsberger. The officials spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Three U.S. officials said Livelsberger was an active-duty Army member who spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that is home to Army special forces command. The officials also spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose details of his service.

The FBI said Thursday in a post on X that it was “conducting law enforcement activity” at a home in Colorado Springs related to Wednesday's explosion but provided no other details.

The explosion of the truck, packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters, came hours after 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot to death by police. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver was not acting alone.

Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, also spent time at Fort Bragg but one official said so far there is no overlap in their assignments there.

Seven people nearby suffered minor injuries when the Tesla truck exploded.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself."

"All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” Musk wrote.

Authorities know who rented the truck with the Turo app in Colorado, Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said Wednesday.

Police block the area after a vehicle caught fire and exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump's hotel Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Police block the area after a vehicle caught fire and exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump's hotel Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Police block the area after a vehicle caught fire and exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump's hotel Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Police block the area after a vehicle caught fire and exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump's hotel Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)