IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Mitchell Santner Claims Career Best Figures as New Zealand Bundle Out India For 156

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Mitchell Santner claimed his career best figures as New Zealand bundled out India for 156 just after lunch on day 2 of the second Test at the Maharastra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.

Starting at an overnight score of 16 for 1 in response to New Zealand's 259 All Out, India added 91 runs in the morning session and later added 49 runs in the first hour post the lunch break as Santner put the hosts on the back foot.

Santner, who was yet to take a five-wicket haul in Tests, finished the first session with figures of 4 for 36, which happened to be his best in the longest format, having claimed seven three-wicket hauls in his previous 47 bowling innings.

The left-arm orthodox bowler added three more wickets in the post-lunch session to register his best Test innings figures of 7 for 53. Here is a look at his top five best bowling figures in Tests:

Mitchell Santner's Best Figures in Test innings

• 7/53 vs India in 2024 (Pune)
• 3/34 vs South Africa in 2024 (Mount Maunganui)
• 3/51 vs Bangladesh in 2023 (Mirpur)
• 3/53 vs England in 2019 (Mount Maunganui)
• 3/59 vs South Africa in 2024 (Mount Maunganui)

Coming back to the Pune Test, Santner opened his account by trapping Shubman Gill in front of the stumps as the Indian number three departed for 30. The Kiwi left-arm spinner then cleaned up Virat Kohli, who missed a full delivery, to depart for 1 an over later.

While Phillips provided great support with his off-spinners to remove Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Santner dismissed the dangerous Sarfraz Khan, who failed to clear mid-off, for 11.

Just a few minutes before the lunch break, Santner once again struck to remove Ravichandran Ashwin, who was trapped in front of the stumps for a ball that kept low, leaving India in a spot of bother as they still trailed New Zealand by 152 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja and hero with the ball, Washington Sundar then added 40 odd runs post lunch to take India closer to New Zealand's first innings total. The duo's stand, however, was ended by Santner as Jadeja, who had a lucky stay, fell LBW to the fellow left-arm spinner.

Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah were clean bowled and trapped LBW respectively as Sundar remained unbeaten at the other end, handing New Zealand a lead of 103 runs.