IND vs NZ second Test: Mitchell Santner does it again as New Zealand creates history in seven decades

After setting India a stiff target of 359, all it took for the Kiwi bowlers 257 minutes and a little over 60 overs to wind up India’s second essay for 245.

For the second time in three days – and the third time in four innings this series – India’s batters surrendered against a clinical New Zealand as the visiting side created history by taking an unassailable lead in the three-match series, mauling India by 113 runs.

Twenty-six minutes into the last hour of the third day at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium, with some of the 28,895 spectators who had turned up hoping against hope of an India turnaround, Tim Southee at long-on completed a clean catch to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja off Ajaz Patel and the New Zealand bunch burst into a prolonged bout of celebration.

After setting India a stiff target of 359, all it took for the Kiwi bowlers — led by the bespectacled Mitchell Santner — was 257 minutes and a little over 60 overs to wind up India’s second essay for 245.

Barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, who adopted an ultra-aggressive approach before being drawn forward and undone in flight by Santner, and Jadeja who prolonged the inevitable, no India batter could occupy the crease on a pitch that continued to aid the tweakers.

The Kiwi spinners - especially Santner – persisted with making India’s batters play by employing a stump-to-stump line. It paid dividend yet again as the Indian batters continued to be beaten on either side of the edge.

IND vs NZ second Test: Day 3 in pictures, October 26, 2024

New Zealand players celebrate after winning the second Test against India in Pune on October 26, 2024.

Captain Rohit Sharma and New Zealand's skipper Tom Latham shake hands after New Zealand won the second test cricket match in Pune on October 26, 2024.

Captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir are seen dejected after New Zealand defeated India in the second Test in Pune. This is the first Test series loss for India in 12 years.

New Zealand cricketers made history on the Indian soil by winning a Test series after seven decades. India lost the first Test series at home after 12 years.

The stand-out performer for New Zealand is Mitchell Santner who took 13 wickets in the match and played a useful knock in the first innings.

After the dismissals of the top order, Ravindra Jadeja played a lone hand and was the last batsman to be dismissed as India was bundled out for 245 in the second innings.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal played brilliantly in the second innings but that was not enough for Team India as they succumbed to the guiles of Mitchell Santner.

Captain Rohit Sharma could not fire in both the innings as he failed miserably by getting out for 0 and 8 in the match.

Virat Kohli failed to show his class in both the innings as he succumbed to the guiles of Mitchell Santner in both the innings of the second Test

Ravindra Jadeja did well on the third day by taking 3 wickets in the morning session to restrict New Zealand for 255 in the second innings.
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IND vs NZ second Test: Day 2 in pictures, October 25, 2024

New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner proved to be nemesis for the Indian batsmen as he claimed seven wickets in the first innings and his effort enabled India to be dismissed for 156, in Pune on October 25, 2024

Virat Kohli was dimissed by Mitchell Santner for 1 in the second Test in Pune.

Mitchell Santner bowled brilliantly as this delivery dismissed Akash Deep on day 2 of the second Test in Pune.

Ravindra Jadeja was the top scorer for India in the first innings of the second Test. Jadeja scored 38 in the total score of 156.

New Zealand players celebrate the wicket of Rishabh Pant on day 2 of the second Test in Pune.

New Zealand’s captain Tom Latham scored a brilliant 86 to take New Zealand lead past 300.

New Zealand’s Tom Blundell was not out on 30 and he is expected to take Kiwis past 350.

Having taken seven wickets in the first innings, Washington Sundar took four wickets in the second New Zealand innings.

New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra was dismissed by Washington Sundar. Ravindra was castled by Sundar in both the innings.
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IND vs NZ second Test: Day 1 in pictures, October 24, 2024

Washington Sunday, playing in his fifth Test, took his career-best 7 for 59 and spun out New Zealand for 259 in the first innings of the second Test in Pune on October 24, 2024.

Washington Sundar being hugged by captain Rohit Sharma after his career-best 7-wicket haul in the New Zealand first innings of the second Test in Pune.

After winning the toss, New Zealand openers gave their team a sedate start when Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Tom Latham in Pune.

After the dismissal of Tom Latham, New Zealand’s other opener Devon Conway played brilliantly to score 76. He was also dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin.

Continuing his good form from the first Test, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra played a good knock of 65 but he was dismised by Washington Sundar.

New Zealand’s Will Young was the third wicket for Ravichandran Ashwin in the first innings of the second Test in Pune.

Rachin Ravindra celebrates his fifty and being congratulated by Daryl Mitchell.

New Zealand’s Tom Blundell was foxed by a Washington Sundar beauty on day 1 of the second Test in Pune.

Another beauty from Washington Sundar ends the stay of Ajaz Patel

After dismissing New Zealand for 259, India started on a wrong note with Rohit Sharma being dismissed for 0. Tim Southee was the wicket-taker. Rohit, who was cleaned up for the third time in the series and for the second time by Southee.
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Santner - introduced into the attack in the fourth over - bowled unchanged for 29 overs. He first tossed one up to captain Rohit Sharma who was undone in flight to be caught at forward short-leg. But Jaiswal, who opened India’s run-chase with a heave off Southee into the stands at wide long-on, swept the spinners with aplomb. Thanks to Jaiswal’s onslaught, on the back of India picking the last five wickets for 57 runs in the morning, meant the morning session was the first one that was in India’s favour.

Even with India heading to lunch at 81 for one off just 12 overs, stretching the match into the penultimate day was a distant dream. Soon after lunch, Santner pegged Gill on the backfoot and he edged to Southee at slip. Six overs later, the Southee-Santner combine was back in action, with Jaiswal being drawn forward.

In the next over, miscommunication between Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant resulted in the latter being short of his crease to be dismissed for a blob. From thereon, it was always an uphill task. Kohli (missing a quicker one that was hitting the outer half of the leg-stump) and Sarfaraz (bowled after playing for turn and the ball turning just a little bit to hit the off-stump) were dismissed by Santner in quick succession to give himself his second five-wicket haul of the match, and his Test career.

Washington Sundar and Jadeja did manage to prolong the innings and the end came when Southee completed the catch on the boundary.

Earlier in the morning, New Zealand ensured the target crossed the 350-run landmark. Jadeja – preferred over Washington – did get into the wickets column but it was always going to be too little too late!

Published - October 26, 2024 04:03 pm IST