By Roger Childs
The triumph in Pune gives the Black Caps an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and ends India’s remarkable run of 18 consecutive home series wins since Alastair Cook’s England clinched a famous 2-1 triumph in December 2012. –Sam Drury, BBC Sport 26 October 2024
One of the most difficult goals to achieve in world cricket is winning a series in India. In their three-test series currently taking place on the sub-continent, the Black Caps were keen to win at least one match. That was achieved last week in Bengaluru. The Indians had decided to bat first which proved to be a disaster.
Led by fast bowler Matt Henry the home side was skittled for 46, their worst innings ever in India and their third lowest anywhere. New Zealand went on to make 402 in their first knock and the Indians replied with a respectable 462. But the target of 107 was easily achieved by the Black Caps with Will Young not out on 48 and Rachin Ravindra 39 not out following up his crucial century in the first innings.
This eight-wicket victory was New Zealand’s first test win in India since 1988. But could they win the second test and get their first ever series win in the country?
Santner gets the home team in a spin
For the Black Caps there was no lack of motivation as they batted first in Pune. On what was clearly a “spinners’ wicket”, The New Zealanders’ 259 was considered by the pundits to be a respectable score. Devon Conway made 76, star of the first test Rachin Ravindra scored 65 and Mitchell Santner chimed in with 33. India’s right arm off-spinner, Washington Sundar, took seven of the wickets to fall for only 59 runs.
The home team could only respond with 156. Left arm spinner Mitchell Santner took six for 104. This was his first five wicket bag in a test. “Every time you take wickets, you get a little more confident. I felt that. Every time I got a wicket, it got a little better.”
In their second knock the Black Caps reached 255 led by skipper Tom Latham with 86. Tom Blundell made 41 and Glenn Phillips was 48 not out. Sunda again made full use of the spinner’s wicket picking up four for fifty six.
This left India plenty of time to make the 358 needed for victory. However, they fell well short despite opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 77 and further down the order, Ravindra Jadeya getting 42. Santner again weaved his spinning magic taking 6/53. So, the Black Caps had their series win and broke India’s record of 18 successive series victories since 2012.
Not surprisingly Mitchell Santner was declared “Man of the Match”.
Third Test
With the series won, the confident Kiwi cricketers now move on to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the final test in the rubber. Could they make it three out of three victories?