Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner grabbed career-best figures of 7-53, while Tom Latham played a fine captain’s knock of 86 as New Zealand put themselves on the verge of a historic series win after ending Day Two’s play at 198/5 in 53 overs and lead India by 301 runs in the second Test at MCA Stadium on October 25
A day after Washington Sundar blew away New Zealand with his 7-59, it was Santner’s turn to torment the Indian batters on a spin-friendly pitch through a stunning exhibition of varying his pace, line and length, flight and dip to pick his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests by bowling 17.3 overs relentlessly and unchanged from the commentary box end. He was also well-supported by Glenn Phillips’ 2-26 and helped by some rash shot selection and lack of gumption from the Indian batters.
Armed with a 103-run first-innings lead, Latham was enterprising in his stay at the crease and hit ten boundaries in his vital 133-ball knock of 86. Tom Blundell also looked solid in his unbeaten 30, after putting a stand of 60 runs with Latham for the fifth wicket. The onus will be on him and Glenn Phillips (nine not out) to bat India out of the match, and try to force a result on Saturday.
For India, whose tactics and fielding placements bordered on the defensive, Washington Sundar again emerged to be the pick of bowlers with 4-56, while Ravichandran Ashwin took a wicket, and the rest of the bowlers couldn’t step up to stop New Zealand’s charge.
