Christchurch: New Zealand outclassed India, the number one Test side in the world, in the second Test of the two-match series on Monday to hand India their first Test series whitewash loss in 8 years.
Chasing a target of 132 runs, Tom Latham and Tom Blundell stitched a 100 runs partnership as New Zealand registered their 101st Test victory with a seven wicket victory over India in the second test. This was India's first series loss in the ICC World Test Championship.
India last suffered a whitewash in a Test series in 2011/12 contest in Australia where they lost all the four matches of the series. India suffered the heartbreak just five months after England defeated MS Dhoni's side 4-0 (4) in their own backyard. Since then, India won 18 Test series, lost seven and drew one. And in those seven Test series that India lost - South Africa 1-0 (2), New Zealand 1-0 (2), England 3-1 (5), Australia 2-0 (4), South Africa 2-1 (3), England 4-1 (5) - all were overseas except in 2012/13 season when England defeated India 2-1 (4) in their own backyard.
Hence, this New Zealand side has become the first team in eight years to whitewash India in a Test contest since Australia in 2012 with a win in Christchurch. However, this will become only the second time that the nation will achieve this feat. Back in 2002/03 series, Stephen Fleming-led New Zealand had defeated Sourav Ganguly's India 2-0 at home.
Earlier, In reply to 132 runs target at a tricky wicket, New Zealand's opening duo Tom Blundell and Tom Latham negotiated Indian bowlers very well as they kept the momentum of their innings going in the second Test here at the Hagley Oval on Monday. Both Blundell and Latham played Indian bowlers on the merit of their deliveries. With two days left in the game, they took time to settle down and hit a few exquisite boundaries to pile on some important runs as New Zealand ensured a 2-0 win.
At the lunch break, New Zealand were 46 for none in 15 overs, with Blundell and Latham batting on 23 and 16 respectively.
Earlier in the morning, starting at 90 for 6, India were bundled out for 124 in the first session of the third day of the second Test as Tim Southee scalped three wickets while Trent Boult added one more to his second day's tally of three wickets. Both bowlers exploited the overcast conditions of Hagley oval very well on Monday morning. Hanuma Vihari was the first man to go in the 39th over as he was caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off Southee's bowling. Rishabh Pant also met the same consequence off Trent Boult's bowling.
Southee scalped his second wicket of the day and third overall in the innings by dismissing Mohammed Shami who tried to play him over the mid-on boundary but caught by Tom Blundell for five.
Resembling second day's play, Indian batsmen looked clueless against New Zealand's superb pace bowling as Vihari and Pant were dismissed soon after start of third day's play. Shami too didn't last long. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 16.
Earlier on day 2, Boult's fierce spell gave New Zealand advantage over India. After dismissing the host for 235, India were reduced to 90 for six in the last session of the day's play. At the end of second day's play, India were leading by 97 runs. India took a seven-run lead in the first innings.
Shami (4/81 in 23.1 overs) and Bumrah (3/62 in 22 overs) were brilliant in their execution, dismissing New Zealand for 235 in 73.1 overs as they showed why they are one of deadliest fast bowling pair in Test match cricket.
However, India's top-order failed miserably once again as New Zealand bounced back, reducing India to 90 for six at stumps on day two as a three-day finish was on the cards.
