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India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 3: Santner’s Spell Puts New Zealand in Command

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India’s run chase of 359 was always going to be a challenge, and things went from bad to worse for the home side on Day 3 in Pune.

Mitchell Santner was a force for the Kiwis, cleaning up the Indian top order including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli after lunch which put the hosts on the backfoot in the match.

The Santner spin continues to cast its authority over India’s top order.

Player Runs Scored Key Contributions
Yashasvi Jaiswal 77 Hit a quick 50 but was out by Santner’s spin.
Rohit Sharma Early Out Lost his wicket after a good start.
Shubman Gill 23 Fell to Santner, increasing pressure.
Sarfaraz Khan N/A Tasked with holding the innings post-collapse.

New Zealand came out for the third time at 198/5 and Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips in the middle, with the target set for over 300.

Finally, New Zealand folded at 255, leaving India the target of 359 to get in the Test match.

Santner had earlier picked seven wickets that put New Zealand in control of the first innings, and his second innings haul also continued to put pressure on the England batsmen.

India started its run chase in good style, with both openers finally having some spirit behind them, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.

The pair scored 47 runs before lunch and Jaiswal got to her 41-ball fifty straight after. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma got out early, and New Zealand made its breakthrough.

Then Santner took the prize wickets of Gill for 23 and Kohli for 17 to put India in trouble once again.

Related article : Santner Spins Web Around India, Hosts Trail by 103 Runs

Jaiswal and Sarfaraz were left with the tremendous challenge of taking the side through.

India were on the ropes as they lost Jaiswal for 77. The young opener had shown some fight and was set for a massive knock but was bamboozled by Santner’s spin.

Australia lost its last sailing at lunch; India was 81 for one wicket and required 278 runs to win. Sarfaraz Khan

who was expected to hold the innings together after the deposition, walked into the team crease as a desperate Indian team expected him and the lower order to come up with important partnerships against a terrific New Zealand side.

Jadeja and Sundar displayed brilliance, while Santner was the best of the Kiwi bowlers.

Before this, Indian bowlers had given themselves a fighting chance with some fluent bowling from Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja.

Sundar bagged four scalps and two of them were Latham and Conway, the Kiwi skipper and one of their top players respectively while gave three.

However, India’s first inning crumbled to 156 thanks to Santner’s superb spin bowling leaving the team batting a herculean task.

It should be interesting to see how it all plays out as India struggles at the halfway mark of their innings, and New Zealand has the momentum heading into the final few hours of play on Day 3.

It is now in Sarfaraz Khan and the lower order to protect from New Zealand spinners and give India a fighting chance to chase this huge total.

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References:

Sportstar.com

Sportskeeda.com

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