First time in 69 years: Mitchell Santner becomes first New Zealand bowler to take two five-wicket hauls in a Test against India

Mitchell Santner had a record-breaking day on Day 3 of the second India-New Zealand Test match at The MCA Stadium in Pune on Saturday as he became the first Black Caps spinner to take five-wicket hauls in both innings of a Test match against India. Santner was not a part of New Zealand’s playing XI when they defeated India by eight wickets in Bengaluru to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Santner was brought back into the playing XI in place of Matt Henry as the MCA Stadium in Pune offered a spin-friendly track and what an inspired selection it has been for the visitors. The left-arm spinner took seven wickets for 53 in the first innings as India were bowled out for just 156 in reply to New Zealand’s first innings total of 259. The 103-run lead that New Zealand took was also the first time since 2001 that India allowed a visiting team to take a lead of over 100 runs in consecutive Tests .

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New Zealand posted 255 in their second innings in the Pune Test and set Team India a daunting target of 359.

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In reply, India were 206/8 while publishing this report, 153 runs behind the target, and Santner has already taken six wickets for 81 in the second innings. Overall, he has taken 13 wickets so far in the second Test in Pune, becoming the first New Zealander to take five or more wickets twice in a Test match against India since 1955 when these two countries started playing Tests against each other.

He also needs only two more wickets to register the best bowling figures in an India-New Zealand Test match. Currently, the record is held by fellow New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel who took 14 wickets during the Mumbai Test in December 2021.

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Meanwhile, New Zealand are also chasing their first Test series win in India since 1955. In fact, their stunning victory in the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy was the first time the Kiwis won a five-day match in India since 1988 . It was also their only third Test win on Indian soil in 69 years.

Team India has not lost a Test series at home since 2012. Their last Test series defeat at home came against Alastair Cook’s England in 2012, and since then India have won a record consecutive 18 Test series at home.