Santner spins New Zealand to historic series victory in India

New Zealand have handed India their first home series loss in 12 years, snapping an 18-series winning streak by sealing a 113-run victory in the second Test in Pune on Saturday.

Despite winning the first Test by eight wickets, the Black Caps were heavy underdogs across cricket betting sites coming into the second Test of the series, with a spin-friendly pitch expected to favour the home side.

It was the visitors that took advantage of the Pune spin, however, working themselves into a winning position come the start of day three with a 301-run lead and five wickets still in hand in their second innings.

India came out strong with the ball in the first session on Saturday, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin wrapping up the Kiwi innings for just 57 further runs on day three to keep the lead to 358 runs.

With a record-breaking chase required to keep their home winning streak alive, India made an excellent start through Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) who came out swinging.

The opener was kept company by Shubman Gill (23) after Rohit Sharma (8) fell early, and hit a trio of spectacular sixes as the hosts raced along at well over a run-a-ball.

When India reached 1/96 in just the 16th over, a chase of 358 was suddenly not looking too daunting.

However, the Black Caps’ man-of-the-hour Mitchell Santner quickly reminded India why they could only manage 156 in the first innings, taking the wickets of Gill, Kohli and Jaiswal before combining with Tom Blundell for a superb run out of Rishabh Pant (0).

Reduced to 5/147, India stubbornly continued to resist through Washington Sundar (21), Jadeja (42) and Ashwin (18), but Santner’s spin was too much as the wily off-spinner claimed a further six wickets, taking his match total to 13 and rolling the hosts for 245.

“It is obviously a special feeling,” said Black Caps’ captain Tom Latham after the match.

“Very proud to be up here. It is a team effort.

“This game was a clear example of every stepping up at the right times. Very special.

“When you come here, you want to put your best foot forward.

“We wanted to stick to the basics. We wanted to fire our shots and thought we have done that well.

“The way Mitch Santner bowled in the first innings, he was fantastic.

“He bowled brilliantly in the first and second innings.”

India’s captain Rohit was blunt in his post-match analysis, outlining where the world No.2 team needs to improve ahead of the next Test in Mumbai.

“Disappointing. It is not what we expected,” he said.

“New Zealand played better cricket than us.

“We failed to respond to challenges, and we sit here with that result.

“I don’t think we batted well enough to get runs on the board.

“You have to take 20 wickets, but the batters have to put runs on the board as well.

“We did not put enough runs, then conceded a 100-run lead.

“It was a fightback from us, but it was always going to be challenging.”

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