Santner, Latham give New Zealand a shot towards maiden Test series win in India

New Zealand took massive strides towards doing the unthinkable: not just their first Test series win in India, but also India’s first series defeat at home in 12 years.Mitchell Santner , never four wickets in an innings before this Test, and with just one first-class five-for to his name, tied India to the crease and took seven wickets to bowl India out for 156. The batters, led by Tom Latham, did some efficient front-running by attacking the Indian spinners to end the day with a lead of 301 runs with five wickets in hand.

India have only twice overturned a lead of 100 to win a Test: the great Kolkata Test in 2000-01, and a successful chase of over 400, for long the highest in Test cricket. They found themselves in this situation because their legendary spinners were outbowled by two who came into the match with two first-class five-fors between them. Glenn Phillips was Santner’s partner in crime, taking out the two dangerous left-hand batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.

Santner bowled unchanged through the day for 17.3 overs. Six of his victims were either bowled or lbw as he kept attacking the stumps with balls behaving differently from the same spot. This wasn’t quite the square turner that India lost their last Pune Test on – against Australia in 2016-17 – but there was enough turn and enough variation in turn to not allow India the ultra-aggressive approach they have employed this home season.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 259 and 198 for 5 ( Tom Latham 86, Tom Blundell 30*, Washington Sundar 4-56) lead India 156 (Ravindra Jadeja 38; Mitchell Santner 7-53, Glenn Phillips 2-26) by 301 runs

[Cricinfo]