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Santner helps end India's 12-year unbeaten home Test series record

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Clock IconOct 26, 2024Cricket

New Zealand made history by becoming the first touring side to win a Test series in India since 2012 with a 113-run triumph in Pune on Saturday. 

Mitchell Santner's figures of 6-104 in the second innings proved decisive, bowling the Blackcaps to an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series. 

New Zealand started the day 198-5 with Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips at the crease, the former adding 11 runs to his overnight total before being bowled out by Ravindra Jadeja.

Phillips (48) remained until the end as the wickets tumbled around him as Santner, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel and Will O'Rourke all failed to reach double figures. 

The Blackcaps posted a total of 255, to give India a target of 359 for victory, with the hosts starting well in their run chase through Yashasvi Jaiswal's 77 runs from 66 balls. 

But Santner would go on to rip out the top order, claiming the wickets of Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (eight), Shubman Gill (23) and Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (zero), the latter coming via a run out.

India were desperate for a batter to steady the ship, but it never came to fruition, as Washington Sundar (21) was bowled out by Phillips, while Sarfaraz Khan (nine) became Santner's latest victim.

The victory was sealed when Jadeja (18) was caught by Daryl Mitchell on the boundary, sparking joyous scenes among the tourists.

Data Debrief: Santner stars bright

Having never taken more than three wickets in an innings or six in a match, Santner ended with match figures of 13 for 157, the third-best by any visiting bowler in India.

Santner also became the third New Zealand player to notch a six-wicket haul in both innings of a Test match, after Richard Hadlee against Australia in Brisbane in 1985 and Daniel Vettori against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2004.