Follow UsNew Zealand completed a historic Test series win in India, beating the hosts in the second Test in Pune on October 26 (Saturday). India were up against the wall starting the day’s play but made a comeback with the ball, wrapping up New Zealand’s second innings in the first session itself. However, the batting crumbled again with India falling well short (bowled out for 245) in pursuit of 359.
This is India’s first home series defeat in 12 years. For New Zealand, the day is even bigger with the Black Caps clinching their first series victory in India ever.
“Really special feeling,” said the New Zealand skipper Tom Latham in the post-match presentation in Pune. “Proud to be in this position. Whole team effort and a clear example of everyone pitching in. When Tim (Southee) took that catch we were really happy.”
New Zealand came to the series at the back of a disappointing result in Sri Lanka. They were blanked 0-2 in the series including an innings defeat in the second Test where they were bowled out for 88 in the first innings. The Kiwis were written off in the build-up to the series.
But unlike in Sri Lanka, New Zealand had handy contributions in this Test — 76 from Devon Conway in the first innings and 86 from Latham himself in the second innings. Latham credited runs on the board and following the basics right behind this unprecedented feat in New Zealand’s cricket history.
“When you come over here you want to put your best foot forward. Putting runs on the board at the start was really important. It was about trying to stick to our basics and play the long game. Both surfaces have been different, we've needed to adapt and we've done that very well,” he said.
New Zealand lost 5/57 as India made their move in the morning session. 39 of those runs came from the bat of Glenn Phillips who finished unbeaten on 48 off 82 deliveries. Later on, India made a sprinting start to their tall chase of 359. For as long as Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 from 65 balls) was there, India were well in contest.
“The way GP played this morning was really important. We knew India were going to come out hot. Didn't realise they were going to come that hot, but we managed to get the breakthroughs in the middle session,” Latham spoke on the day’s play.
Mitchell Santner, coming into the Test side after going wicketless in his previous Test, was the Player of the Match for his match figures of 13/157. He also scored 37 runs with the bat across both innings and affected the run out of Rishabh Pant in the second innings.
“Have to mention Mitch Santner. He was fantastic. Has been around the group a long time, and to finally get a break and bowl the way he has - credit to him,” Latham said on Santner’s stunning comeback to Test cricket.
Santner picked 7/53 in the first innings which pushed New Zealand considerably ahead in the Test. In the second innings, he contributed with 6/104.
“Felt a little harder this time (second innings). Credit to India for the way they came out. That was the best way on that wicket. We were just hanging in. Landing the ball in the same spot all the time with little changes in pace - that's what we try and do as a spin unit,” Santner said on his bowling efforts.
Santner experienced some side strain on Day 3 and put it down to the workload of bowling long spells in Test cricket that he isn’t used to as yet. “My side's a bit sore. 20-odd overs in a row. I guess in that kind of situation you just want to keep going. Every time I got a wicket it felt a little better. Nice to contribute to the team,” he said.
“Winning a series over here is very tough. Obviously very pleasing for us. Every time you take wickets you feel confident,” he added on New Zealand’s first Test series win on the Indian soil.
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