What happened on Day 3 of the 2nd IND vs NZ 2024 Test?
New Zealand beat India by 113 runs on Day 3 of the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday, October 26. The Kiwis thus registered their maiden Test series triumph in India. As for the hosts, they suffered their first Test series loss at home since 2012.
Set a highly challenging target of 359, India were all-out for 245 in 60.2 overs. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner again proved to be their nemesis. He claimed 6-104 in 29 overs to go with his first-innings analysis of 7-53. Ajaz Patel (2-43) and Glenn Phillips (1-60) played support roles as the Kiwi spinners shared nine wickets.
India lost skipper Rohit Sharma (8) early yet again. The opener came down the pitch to defend a delivery from Santner but offered a bat-pad catch to short leg. Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 off 65) played some eye-catching strokes as India went to lunch on Day 3 at 81-1 after 12 overs.
The post-lunch session, though, was completely dominated by New Zealand. Gill's stay ended for 23 as he nicked one from Santner to slip. Jaiswal, who clobbered nine fours and three sixes during his impressive stay, was the next to go. The left-handed batter was also caught at slip as he edged a delivery from left-arm spinner Santner that went straight on.
Things went from bad to worse for India as Rishabh Pant was run out for a duck going for a non-existent single. Even a desperate dive from the Indian keeper-batter could not save him. The hosts were five down for 147 when Virat Kohli (17) was trapped leg before by Santner as the Kiwi spinner got one to zip off the pitch. DRS returned the umpire's call and so Kohli was forced to walk off.
Santner completed his second five-fer of the Test by knocking over a clueless Sarfaraz Khan (9) with a tossed-up delivery. Washington Sundar (21), Ravichandran Ashwin (18), and Ravindra Jadeja (42) hung around to delay the inevitable. The historic moment for New Zealand came when Jadeja was caught at long-on in an attempt to go after Ajaz.
Glenn Phillips stretches New Zealand's lead past 350 amid India's fightback
Earlier in the day, New Zealand resumed their second innings on 198-5 and ended up scoring 255 to set India a target of 359. Tom Blundell, unbeaten on 30 overnight, was bowled by Jadeja for 41. The latter also dismissed Santner and Ajaz cheaply, while Ashwin got the better of Tim Southee.
Phillips, however, played a fine knock of 48* to push the Kiwi score past 250. The right-handed batter struck four fours and two sixes in his knock to ensure New Zealand set India a target of 350-plus.