Ind vs NZ: New Zealand eye first Test series win in India, end Day 2 with lead of 301 runs

New Zealand ended Day 2 of the second Test in Pune at 198/5 in their second innings, extending the lead to 301 runs. The Kiwis eye to make history by winning their first Test series in India.

Captain Tom Latham led from the front with 86 runs, while wicket-keeper batter Tom Blundell remained unbeaten on 30 at stumps. Washington Sundar, who had picked seven wickets in the first innings, had four scalps in the second essay.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand bowled out India for 156 runs in the first innings, taking a 103-run lead.



After having lost a wicket on Thursday, India quickly lost their remaining nine wickets as left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner architected the collapse with seven wickets. Off spinner Glenn Phillips took a couple of wickets. For India, Ravindra Jadeja top scored with 38 runs. Shubman Gill and opener Yashaswi Jaiswal scored 30 runs each.

The poor batting performance follows the 46 all out in the first Test at Bengaluru, which India lost by eight wickets.

On Day 1, Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar bowled a spell which would be remembered for ages as he went on to pick seven wickets in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. His efforts restricted New Zealand to 259.

Questions were raised by many spectators for being picked in the playing eleven while Kuldeep Yadav was benched. Meanwhile, Washington repaid the faith shown in him by the team management with career-best figures in just the fifth Test.


The cricketer from Tamil Nadu has made his return to the playing XI after nearly three and a half years, with his last appearance in the Ahmedabad Test against England in March 2021.

The last seven wickets for New Zealand fell against 62 runs with Devon Conway (76) and Rachin Ravindra (65) being the top-scorers for New Zealand after the visitors won the toss and elected to bat.