PUNE (Reuters) – A spectacular seven-wicket haul by Mitchell Santner helped New Zealand dismiss India for 156 before the tourists reached 85-2 at tea on day two of the second test in Pune on Friday to tighten their grip on the three-match series.
Tom Latham was batting on 37 and Rachin Ravindra was unbeaten on seven as the Black Caps, who won the opening match by eight wickets, extended their lead to 188 runs at the break after scoring 259 in the first innings.
Washington Sundar sent back Devon Conway for 17 while Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Will Young for 23 but runs came too easily for New Zealand, who are eyeing a strong total to boost their chances of a maiden series win in India.
India are seeking a 19th straight home series victory since a 2-1 defeat by England in 2012, but will need a battling effort to draw level with New Zealand ahead of the finale in Mumbai early next month.
Santner had earlier posted career-best figures of 7-53 while Glenn Phillips took 2-26 as spin bowlers continued to excel at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, where Washington bagged 7-59 on the first day.
The hosts resumed on 16-1 after losing captain Rohit Sharma for a nine-ball duck, and Shubman Gill was fortunate to survive a loud appeal for lbw on the third ball of the morning from Santner when he was on 10.
Back in the side after missing the series-opening defeat in Bengaluru due to a stiff neck, Gill shrugged off the early scare and went on the attack by lofting paceman Tim Southee for a six.
Santner trapped Gill plumb in front for 30 and the left-armer struck again by bowling out Virat Kohli for one with an inviting full toss that the batsman missed completely, as two quick strikes rattled India.
Yashasvi Jaiswal drove and swept the bowlers and appeared a lot more at ease at the other end, although the left-hander was lucky his slog sweep off Ajaz Patel fell in no man's land when he was on 16.
Daryl Mitchell pulled off a sharp catch at slip as Phillips dismissed Jaiswal for 30 and the tourists could have had another had the fielder held onto a tough chance when Santner forced an edge off Sarfaraz Khan's blade.
Rishabh Pant was castled for 18 by Phillips after a loose shot and Santner had Sarfaraz caught for 11 to leave India on the ropes at 95-6, with both their batting heroes from the opening game back in the dugout.
Santner trapped Ashwin lbw for four and removed Ravindra Jadeja in similar fashion after the batsman made a defiant 38, before getting one to go through Akash Deep's defence.
He then snared Jasprit Bumrah for a duck to ensure that New Zealand would begin their second innings with a lead of 103 runs, leaving India needing a big bowling effort to prevent the game from slipping away further.