Courtesy: BCCI
Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand spinner, picked up a seven-wicket haul on day two of the second Test match against India, to play a key role in bundling them out for just 156 runs in their first innings. With the first five-wicket haul of his Test career, the left-arm spin bowler helped put New Zealand in a commanding position at the end of day two with a lead of 301 runs at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.
After winning the first Test in Bengaluru by eight wickets, New Zealand scored 259 runs in their first innings in the second Test in Pune, which was looked upon at just about a par total. But, at the start of day two, the spin bowlers of the Black Caps, especially Mitchell Santner, delivered an exceptional spell of bowling, to prove that their first innings was way bigger than initially thought of.
New Zealand have a 301-run lead at the close of play on day two in Pune Test versus India
In his 29th match of his Test career, Mitchell Santner dismissed the likes of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, and Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian first innings, to break the back of their batting lineup. After securing a 103-run lead in the first innings, New Zealand batters were calculated in their approach with the bat in the second innings, mixing attack with defence quite well.
Captain Tom Latham scored 86 off 133 with 10 fours, while all the batters at the other end for New Zealand were able to put together small but valuable stands with him, to ensure that they ended day two on 198/5. With a big lead of 301 runs on a wearing pitch at the MCA Stadium in Pune, New Zealand will be fancying their chances of beating India in back-to-back matches on day three, to win their first-ever Test series against the hosts in their own den.
