Santner takes 13 as India drop first home series since '12

Mitchell Santner (6-104) followed up his career-best figures of 7-53 from the first innings to lead New Zealand to a series-clinching 112-run win over India in the second Test in Pune. The defeat is India's first series loss at home since 2012, thereby ending a long streak that lasted for 18 bilateral series in a row. The writing was on the wall at the Tea break on Day 3 with India needing 181 more runs to stay in the game. While Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have bailed India out of crisis situations aplenty, particularly on home soil, this was a bridge too far for the veterans.

The duo did stitch a 39-run stand to delay New Zealand's victory march but Santner inevitably broke partnership by getting Ashwin to edge one to Daryl Mitchell at first slip. Jadeja (42) fought a lone battle to try and take the game deep into the day but with no.10 and no.11 for company, it was just a matter of time. After taking 24 balls to get off the mark, Akash Deep couldn't resist the temptation of the big shot and holed out against Ajaz Patel. Jasprit Bumrah entertained the crowd with a six and a four off Santner before Jadeja became the last to fall, miscuing a slog against Ajaz.

The foundation of New Zealand's 112-run win was set up by their clinical precision with bat and ball. On a black soil Pune surface that was dry and spinning, toss was always going to be a crucial element in the game and Tom Latham had the luck going his way in his first game as full-time captain. Fifties from Devon Conway (76) and Rachin Ravindra (65) helped the visitors to get a strong foundation even with the pitch playing tricks. In hindsight, their knocks were pivotal as New Zealand later collapsed in a heap to Washington Sundar (7-59)

Conway and Ravindra were composed in their strokeplay, more so the latter who was at his fluent best on a tough pitch. New Zealand would have hoped for a score in the 300-325 range with the duo's efforts but Sundar in his comeback game ran riot, making full use of the conditions on offer. The last seven New Zealand wickets fell for just 62 runs as India gained momentum in the game after an erratic start on the opening day. That joy, however, was short-lived as the visitors produced a telling performance on the second day.

Like Sundar, it was a comeback game for Santner too although the gap wasn't as long for the left-arm spinner. Having endured a disappointing series in helpful Sri Lankan conditions, the pressure was on Santner, not just in the context of this game but also for his red-ball future. He responded grandly, by slicing through the Indian batting unit like a knife through butter. His tall release, trajectory and masterly changes in pace were a deadly combo on a Pune pitch that seemed a landmine everytime he bowled on it. India didn't help their cause either as the approach against spin was timid in the first innings.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (30) and Shubman Gill (30) got starts upfront while Ravindra Jadeja (38) also managed a few runs but that substantial innings was missing for the home side. The meek surrender to Santner's guile meant a huge first innings lead of 103 for New Zealand, a game-defining advantage on this kind of a surface. From then on, India were only playing catch-up and their only realistic chance of getting back into the game was if they could restrict New Zealand to a total in the 100-125 range. Those hopes were quickly dashed as the Black Caps came out with intent from the get-go in their second innings, led by Latham (86).

The overwhelming pressure of protecting their enviable unbeaten streak at home on a turning pitch seemingly weighed heavily on India's spinners as Ashwin and Jadeja struggled to get the control that Santner had. In fact, the latter picked up his first wicket of the game only on the third morning. It was Sundar (4-56) again who made things happen with timely strikes but he found little support from the other end. New Zealand ended the second day at 198/5 and with the lead having touched the 300-run mark, the result appeared to be a foregone conclusion already.

Jadeja found his bearings today in the morning session as New Zealand were bundled out quickly but the target of 359 on this pitch needed a miracle. The Indian Test side had produced some outrageous results in recent years but even factoring that in, this was a task too steep. There was better intent in the chase, particularly from Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) who set the ball rolling with an explosive innings but Santner was the nemesis once again for the Indians. He continued to run through India's batting unit and the strike of Jaiswal followed by Rishabh Pant's run out for a duck effectively killed whatever minimal hopes that India may have had.

Having failed to get a fifer in First-class cricket before this game, Santner nailed two in the same match with a 13-wicket match haul to lead New Zealand into the history books. Among a plethora of records that were shattered, being the first team to win a series in India in 12 years stands tall. For the second game running, India were outplayed after having been out of answers on a seam-friendly Bengaluru surface.

Brief scores: New Zealand 259 and 255 (Tom Latham 86; Washington Sundar 4-56, Ravindra Jadeja 3-72) beat India 156 and 245 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 77, Ravindra Jadeja 42; Mitchell Santner 6-104) by 112 runs