In a remarkable turn of events on the third day of the Test match in Pune, Mitchell Santner’s astounding performance has positioned New Zealand within striking distance of a historic series win against India. The left-arm spinner, noted for his cunning and skill on the field, achieved his first-ever ten-wicket haul in Test cricket, a testament to his growing reputation as a match-winner for New Zealand. His masterful spell of 5-72 during the afternoon session not only decimated the Indian batting lineup but also left the host nation facing an upset of historic proportions.

The day’s play, which will be remembered for Santner’s bowling magic, began with a glimmer of hope for the Indian team. Yashasvi Jaiswal, dynamic and full of intent, continued his aggressive stance against the New Zealand attack, amassing 77 runs with a mixture of finesse and flair. His shot selection seemed to put the Kiwi bowlers on the back foot, giving India the upper hand early on. However, Santner was yet to make his mark. The spinner’s entrance into the fray soon became a game-changer, beginning with the crucial dismissal of Shubman Gill, who edged a delivery to slip, falling into Santner’s well-laid trap.

As the session progressed, the drama intensified with Santner breaking Jaiswal’s momentum. The young opener, already struggling with back issues for which he was receiving on-field treatment, succumbed to a spectacular delivery, edging the ball to the waiting fielders. Jaiswal’s fall, still buzzing after his impressive strokes, was a void too big for India to fill, tipping the scales in New Zealand’s favor.

Adding to India’s woes was a moment of misjudgment between Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli, resulting in Pant’s run-out at a critical juncture. It was a self-inflicted wound that saw India slide from a comfortable 127/2 to a precarious 127/4, losing both their left-handed skirmishers to Santner’s sorcery.

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. Despite India’s attempt at alternating their batting order to disrupt the rhythm of Santner, bringing in Washington Sundar at number six as part of their strategic maneuvering, their effort was thwarted by Santner’s relentless attack.

Virat Kohli, India’s captain and one of the few constants in their batting lineup, was another victim of Santner’s magical spell, falling for the second time in the match to the left-arm spinner. This dismissal further underlined Santner’s hold over the proceedings. Kohli’s loss was swiftly followed by Sarfaraz Ahmed’s, leaving the Indian middle order in disarray. Washington Sundar, after a brief resistance, also fell prey to Santner’s relentless spin bowling.

With India’s batting in a collapse and facing an insurmountable 181-run deficit for victory, the prospects of a miraculous recovery seemed to slip away as New Zealand firmed their grip on the match. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin managed to stave off further losses until the tea break, but the sense of impending doom loomed heavily over the team. Notably, while other bowlers found sporadic success on the Pune wicket, Santner proved to be the architect of India’s unraveling, tactfully exploiting the pitch to carve a path for New Zealand towards a potential series win.

The significance of this achievement for New Zealand cannot be understated as they inch closer to handing India their first home Test series defeat since 2012. As cricket enthusiasts watch with bated breath, the outcome could herald a new chapter in New Zealand’s cricketing history, powered by Mitchell Santner’s unforgettable spell in Pune.

Brief scores at the end of the session saw New Zealand put up scores of 259 and 255, with Tom Latham contributing a valiant 86 in the effort. Washington Sundar’s figures of 4/56 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 3/72 emerged as notable for India, but ultimately couldn’t overshadow Santner’s heroics that have defined the match. As the players took a break for tea, New Zealand led India by 180 runs with the latter struggling at 178/7.

By IPL Agent

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