NEW DELHI: India’s star batter Virat Kohli‘s ongoing difficulties in opposition to spinners in Asian circumstances had been on full show as soon as once more through the second Check in opposition to New Zealand on the MCA Stadium in Pune.
Chasing a frightening goal of 359 runs, India discovered themselves in a difficult place after shedding two fast wickets in successive overs. Kohli, alongside all-rounder Washington Sundar, tried to stabilize the innings with a cautious 20-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, 2nd Check
Nonetheless, New Zealand’s match hero Mitchell Santner had different plans. Within the thirtieth over of India’s second innings, Santner trapped Kohli leg-before wicket, leaving the Pune crowd in shocked silence.
Kohli, who seemed regular with 17 runs off 40 balls, tried to play an arm ball off the backfoot however missed, and the ball hit him on the pads. Kohli reviewed the choice, however the ball was proven to be clipping the leg stump, upholding the umpire’s name. The Indian batter was pressured to stroll again to the pavilion, as soon as once more falling prey to Santner’s guile, simply as he did within the first innings.
With this dismissal, Santner turned the primary left-arm spinner to dismiss Kohli in each innings of a Check match.
Santner wasn’t accomplished but – shortly after, he bowled Sarfaraz Khan for 9, finishing his second five-wicket haul of the match. This exceptional efficiency made Santner the primary New Zealand spinner to assert two five-wicket hauls in a single Check on Indian soil.
The final spinner to realize such a feat in opposition to India was Australia’s Steve O’Keefe, who took 6/35 in every innings on the identical Pune venue throughout a Check in 2017.
Santner’s brilliance has put New Zealand in a commanding place as India wrestle to chase down the large goal.
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