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.
Copyright – Third Party Reference Inline Linking Embedded Video from BCCI
Report
Mitchell Santner, who had never taken more than three wickets in an innings or six in a match, led New Zealand to a historic victory in Pune with match statistics of 13 for 157, the third-best by a visiting bowler in India. He bowled 29 overs in a row for six wickets in the second innings, after an unbroken performance of 19.3 overs in the first innings for 7 for 53, to help New Zealand win their first series in India and India lose their first home series since 2012. Despite a painful side, Santner missed only one over from his end since beginning bowling in the first innings.
He was vital in stopping India’s daring quest for a 359-run chase, which was aided by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 77 off 65, which pushed India to 96 for 1 at less than a run per ball. Santner received little assistance from the other end, as Ajaz Patel’s mediocre series continued, while Glenn Phillips mixed easy deliveries with excellent ones. Santner continued to dominate the hitters in the air with his dip and variations in velocity and angle, recording his maiden ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
It was an extremely crucial intervention since India was on a roll after causing a 5 for 24 collapse with the ball and then a magnificent start to the chase by Jaiswal. Things were so urgent that New Zealand burned two reviews of Jaiswal. In the morning, requiring a faultless session to avoid having the door slammed in their face, India opened with the seasoned combo of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin rather than the form bowler Washington Sundar, who had claimed 11 of New Zealand’s 15 wickets up to that point. India did not have a good start.
Ashwin’s opening delivery generated an edge that Rohit Sharma did not go for. Tom Blundell and Phillips quickly added 33 to the overnight score. Jadeja’s ability to turn the ball over at such a high rate in the mid-1990s was only a positive indicator for New Zealand. Even full balls proved tough to hit, as Santner and Ajaz learned with deep catches. Prior to that, India required a breakthrough, which came in the form of a natural variation that extended beyond Blundell’s inner edge.
The fact that it was Jadeja’s first wicket of the match highlighted why India lost the contest: a rare outbowling of two of their best match-winners, who had led them to 18 consecutive home series victories. It was unsurprising that India came out swinging after being trapped to the crease in the first innings. Jaiswal drove a wide-length ball first up, but the edge landed just short of the gully. It didn’t stop him from flicking the second ball for a six, the first of three, tying the record for most sixes in a calendar year.
He used both the sweep and the charge on the spinners to disrupt the bowlers’ lengths. The margin for mistake was nearly non-existent when he attacked Tim Southee, Ajaz, and Phillips. His extra-cover drive for a six off Phillips on this pitch was spectacular. New Zealand spinners seldom win Tests on their own. Santner was challenged to do it on his own, despite never taking more than three wickets in a Test innings before this one. He was the only one who remained in control during the Jaiswal assault.
Santner got the better of Rohit initially, as the ball dipped on him, and the extra bounce resulted in the bat-pad dismissal. Shubman Gill, who had become bogged on the crease with Jaiswal in the first innings, came out attacking, and the two added 62 in under ten overs, making New Zealand worried. The pitch had not softened out. The batsmen’ determination put the bowlers under immense strain, and even little errors were punished. In essence, all the spinners had to do was attract regular forward-defensive prods from the hitters while avoiding being driven.
When Santner started doing that, he began to create opportunities. Then he bowled flatter while remaining full, forcing Gill back and taking the edge with the spin for the first of two superb catches by Daryl Mitchell at slip. The next one was Jaiswal, who delivered the classic turning-pitch dismissal. The first step was to select a location that Jaiswal could neither return to nor drive from. The first ball turned big enough to beat his inside edge, and the second went straight on, giving Mitchell the advantage. Not a bad wicket to get your maiden ten-wicket haul.
Rishabh Pant later suffered the price for not saying no. Virat Kohli played one behind square and began sprinting. The ball had moved to Santner’s left. Pant had every right to send Kohli back, but he went ahead. Not even a dive was enough to bring him inside. It was as if Santner didn’t have a side strain to manage. Between overs, he would stretch but swooped in on balls in his vicinity, making it impossible to get the ball away from him. He forced Kohli to play back to a fullish ball, which trapped him lbw. Sarfaraz Khan fell victim to a slow, tempting ball that twisted and smacked off stump.
Phillips eventually got on the board when Will Young made a fantastic grab at short leg, sending back India’s hero, Washington. Ashwin and Jadeja appeared to be the most comfortable batting duo as they added 39 for the eighth wicket, leaving India wondering what could have happened if they hadn’t lost so many wickets by the time the older, softer ball began acting erratically. Santner broke the partnership by tempting Ashwin into a drive, giving Mitchell the advantage. The wait for the last wickets was irritating, but they came from outfield catches by Ajaz, who maintained his record for the greatest match statistics by a visiting bowler in India.
