Mitchell Santner seven-wicket haul puts New Zealand in box seat to claim shock series win over India
New Zealand are in the box seat to record a shock Test series win in India.
After spinner Mitchell Santner took 7-53 — his maiden Test five-for — to bundle out India after lunch for 156. Skipper Tom Latham then led the batting effort with 86 as the Black Caps reached 5-198 at stumps to hold a 301 run lead.
India hasn't lost a home Test series since 2012 to England, but its incredible run of 18 successive home series wins is without doubt under threat. New Zealand's win in Bengaluru last weekend was their first in India in 36 years.
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They have never won a series in India.
"To put ourselves in a position to potentially win a Test was cool," Santner said.
New Zealand's Mitchell Santner has put his side in the box seat to claim a shock series victory in India. AP
"The batters did well, wasn't easy, and building the partnerships was key."
A series victory would cap off a sensational few weeks for New Zealand sports. As well as winning the first Test last week, New Zealand also won a third-straight Americas Cup, their women's team won the T20 World Cup, and their netball team beat the Diamonds twice.
Back in Pune, India off-spinner Washington Sundar, who took a career-best 7-59 in the first innings, had 4-56 in the second and his first 10-wicket haul in Tests.
India, replying to New Zealand's first total of 259, started the day at 1-16.
Santner collected 4-36 in 10 overs and off-spinner Glenn Phillips grabbed 2-26 in the morning as India collapsed to 7-107 by lunch.
Virat Kohli was one of seven Indian batters to fall to Mitchell Santner. AP
India made good progress in the beginning. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were aggressive and put on 49 runs, but were pushed back when Santner came on to bowl.
With Ajaz Patel bowling at the other end, the momentum shifted in New Zealand's favor and the batters looked under pressure.
Santner broke through when he got Gill lbw in the 22nd over for 30 runs off 72 balls.
Virat Kohli then scored one run off nine balls and failed to pick a Santner full toss drifting in, and was bowled.
Jaiswal gave Phillips an outside edge on 30, and Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 150 in Bengaluru, chipped Santner over mid-off but was caught for 11.
Santner also trapped Ravichandran Ashwin (4) before lunch with the ball again staying low.
After lunch, Ravindra Jadeja came out swinging for 38 off 46 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Jadeja survived a close call when the umpire and Santner failed to detect an inside edge for a caught dismissal, but he was out lbw shortly and the spinner had his five-for.
Santner then went on to bowl Akash Deep (6) and trap Jasprit Bumrah (0) lbw. His 7-53 was the second best bowling figures in India after Ajaz Patel's 10-119 in 2021 in Mumbai.
India's third batting collapse in this series and fourth in four Tests left it trailing by 103 runs on the first innings.
Latham scored 86 off 133 balls, including 10 boundaries, anchoring New Zealand while it was reduced to 3-89.
Sundar trapped Devon Conway for 17, bowled Rachin Ravindra for 9, and dismissed Daryl Mitchell on 18 for his 10-wicket match haul, while Ravichandran Ashwin got Will Young lbw on 23.
Latham and Tom Blundell rebuilt the innings with a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket that put New Zealand back in a commanding position.
Their stand was broken by Sundar when Latham swept and missed and was struck on the pad.
Batting at stumps were Blundell, 30 not out, and Phillips, 9 not out.
