India collapsed to a humiliating series defeat at home, their first for 12 years, when they were bowled out for 245 by New Zealand in their chase of 359 on the third day of the second Test on Saturday as Mitchell Santner took six wickets.
Santner ended with 6-104 for a match haul of 13 to set up the historic win and it was his senior spin partner Ajaz Patel who picked up the last two Indian wickets, including Ravindra Jadeja for a defiant 42, to settle the contest.
It was a stunning defeat for India, who were dismantled by eight wickets in seamer-friendly conditions in the opening match at Bengaluru, as they suffered their first series loss on home soil since falling to England in 2012.
Their proud run of 18 successive home series wins since that 2-1 humbling was ended by the inspired Black Caps, who were by far the better side in both matches and will target a clean sweep in the finale at Mumbai from Friday.
India’s highest successful run chase at home is the 4-387 they scored to beat England in Chennai in 2008 but any hopes of a similar effort faded on the black-soil turner at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium where spinners wreaked havoc.
The final wicket: New Zealand players celebrates the dismissal of India’s Washington Sundar.Credit: AP
They made a blazing start as Yashasvi Jaiswal smacked some spectacular boundaries, but his dismissal for 77 by Santner and Rishabh Pant’s shocking run out for a duck after lunch left India in deep trouble at 4-127.
Santner, who had earlier removed Rohit Sharma for eight and Shubman Gill for 23, continued to torment India as the left-arm spinner trapped trump card Virat Kohli lbw for 17 and set the alarms bells ringing in the home changing room.
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Sarfaraz Khan was unable to recreate his batting heroics from the opening match, perishing for nine after missing a low delivery from Santner to hand the bowler back-to-back five-wicket hauls.
