Watch cricket video highlights of New Zealand tour of India 2024. Second test between India and New Zealand. Venue of the match will be Pune.
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New Zealand made huge inroads toward accomplishing the unthinkable: not only did they win their first Test series in India, but India also lost its first series at home in 12 years. Mitchell Santner, who had never taken four wickets in an innings prior to this Test and had only one first-class five-for, held India up at the crease and took seven wickets to bowl them out for 156. The hitters, headed by Tom Latham, did some smart front-running by hitting the Indian spinners, finishing the day with a 301-run advantage and five wickets in hand.
India has only won a Test by overturning a 100-run advantage twice: in the epic Kolkata Test in 2000-01, and in a successful chase of over 400 at Port-of-Spain in 1976, which was previously the highest in Test cricket. They found themselves in this scenario when their famed spinners were outbowled by two players who came into the game with two first-class five-fors. Glenn Phillips was Santner’s accomplice, knocking out two dangerous left-handed hitters, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. Santner bowled unchanged for 17.3 overs.
Six of his victims were bowled or lbw as he continued to target the stumps with balls that behaved differently from the same position. This wasn’t quite the square turner on which India lost their previous Pune Test, against Australia in 2016-17, but there was enough turn and variety in turn to prevent India from adopting the ultra-aggressive attitude they have used this domestic season. From the first three balls of the day, India’s challenge was clear.
The first one turned out to be less than predicted, the second went straight on but Shubman Gill survived the umpire’s ruling, and the third turned large past the outside edge. There were not just turns, but also rapid turns and natural differences in the surface. India has batting depth till No. 9, but on such pitches, it doesn’t matter much. Santner was so accurate that it only took 47 incorrect shots to get past India. However, during the first half hour, New Zealand’s patience and belief were put to the test.
Gill began to break loose with a six off Tim Southee after rushing at him. Yashasvi Jaiswal hit Southee for a four before Ajaz Patel, the lead spinner on paper, delivered him another half-volley. But things swung around for New Zealand in the 22nd over of the day, when Santner again beat Gill with a straight ball. This time, the umpire’s decision favoured the bowler. As the 15-second DRS timer ran out, the crowd erupted in a loud applause. For the arrival of Virat Kohli.
Their delight was short-lived, however, as Kohli quickly missed a full toss, which he attempted to mow to square leg. The ball did drift in from the initial line, but it was still a full toss, which Kohli would have despatched practically every time if he had used a straight bat. The roller’s influence had faded by this point. Batters were shanking even full balls – or those that came near – with their feet. The ones who did not convert raised further skepticism.
As is customary at such moments, fielders were everywhere: a strong sweep ran straight into the shin of a short leg, a short ball halted and spun, and the pressure piled on. With two left-handed hitters in the middle, Latham turned to Phillips after the first refreshment break. It took Phillips four balls to spin one and for Jaiswal’s edge to slip. Rishabh Pant, who had been kept quiet with in-out fields, proceeded to pluck one that was just slightly shorter in length.
The ball stayed low and bowled him, eliciting an inaudible outburst that might wind up hitting Pant in the pocketbook. Sarfaraz Khan, who had demonstrated proficiency against spin in Bengaluru, quickly discovered that the margin for mistake was little in Pune. If you had to attack, you needed everything to go perfectly. He attempted to go inside-out to a really full ball, but it still spooned barely past cover. His sweep was stopped, and he only received singles.
Eventually, he attempted to clear the deepish midfield without reaching the ball, a reminiscent of Phillips’ ejection on day one. A shooter then dismissed R Ashwin, marking the first time Santner had taken more than three wickets in a Test innings. India had lost six wickets for 53 runs, and New Zealand was so far ahead that they could risk a DRS blunder and have Ajaz bowl to two left-handed batters in four overs for 32 runs. Meanwhile, Santner continued attacking the stumps and creating ample opportunities.
Only some striking by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar propelled India above 150. A 103-run advantage here was even worse than 356 in Bengaluru since the pitch was only going to grow worse and India would have to bat last. Latham paddle swiped the first ball. A rearward short leg came in to block the shot, and he covered the boundary. Rohit Sharma was now simply chasing the ball because you can’t respond when you’re behind by so much on a turning ground. The defeat of two of India’s finest match winners was clinical.
Sweeps, reverse sweeps, and footwork were all utilized. Ashwin’s first spell lasted six overs and yielded 33 runs, while Jadeja’s went for 24 in three. Washington, on the other end, kept collecting up wickets. Devon Conway edged a sweep to the pad but did not challenge the LBW judgment. New Zealand was far ahead. Once they got started and the field stretched out, Latham pitched his tent for an extended session while the others batted more quickly around him.
Washington went on to convert his first-innings seven-for into only his second ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket, although New Zealand found it simpler to score runs on the other end. Latham lost short on a century, but he had put New Zealand in a strong position.
