2nd Test: Santner Stars As New Zealand Do The Impossible With A Historic Series Win In India
Not many had thought New Zealand would go on to get their first Test series win in India, especially after losing 2-0 in Sri Lanka, having a new captain in Tom Latham and ace batter Kane Williamson not being available due to a groin injury.
But New Zealand upstaged India by winning key moments in Pune to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Santner, who took 7-53 in the first innings, rattled India yet again with a remarkable spell of 6-104 to end up with match figures of 13/157, the third-best match figures for a bowler from his country in Tests.
Despite nursing pain on his right side, Santner varied his pace, and trajectory and found enough help from a spin-friendly pitch to bamboozle the Indian batters and play a major hand in New Zealand doing the impossible in a convincing fashion.
The result also means that India have lost a Test series at home for the first time since December 2012. The defeat to a tough and solid New Zealand side, after being bowled out for 245 in an uphill pursuit of 359, brings their unbeaten 18-series streak in Tests at home to an end. After reducing India to 178/7 at tea, the final session began with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja defending for nine overs before the former was lured into a drive on a ball from Santner which dipped and then turned to take the edge to slip.
Despite a few boundaries from Jadeja delaying the inevitable, New Zealand continued to strike as Akash Deep holed out to long-on, giving left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel his first wicket of the match. Jadeja became the fourth player to enter a rare club of 2000-plus runs and 200-plus wickets in Tests at home through his knock of 42. But him holing out to long-on off Patel made the way for an unforgettable moment in New Zealand’s cricketing history.
Brief scores:
Despite a few boundaries from Jadeja delaying the inevitable, New Zealand continued to strike as Akash Deep holed out to long-on, giving left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel his first wicket of the match. Jadeja became the fourth player to enter a rare club of 2000-plus runs and 200-plus wickets in Tests at home through his knock of 42. But him holing out to long-on off Patel made the way for an unforgettable moment in New Zealand’s cricketing history.
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Article Source: IANS