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New Zealand were 255 all out in their second innings on Saturday and within touching distance of a historic Test series victory in India, with the hosts posting a daunting 359 for victory.

The Black Caps resumed at 198-5 on day three of the second Test and although they were dismissed on a spinning pitch within the first hour of play, India needed a miracle in Pune.

The highest successful Test chase for India at home was 387 against England in Chennai in 2008.

New Zealand led the three-match series 1-0 and have never won a Test series in India.

Indian spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja shared seven wickets between them, with Jadeja claiming three of the five would fall on Saturday morning.

Glenn Phillips hit an unbeaten 48 after starting the day on nine.

Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell added 11 to his 30 on the night before being bowled by Jadeja.

Jadeja soon got Mitchell Santner for four and Ravichandran Ashwin removed Tim Southee for a duck.

The innings ended with William O’Rourke’s run-out, leaving Phillips stranded after hitting four fours and two sixes.

Skipper Tom Latham scored the highest score with 86.

Left-arm spinner Santner put New Zealand firmly in control on day two with 7-53, beating India for 156.

India are staring at their first home Test series loss since December 2012 when Alastair Cook’s England defeated them 2-1 in a four-match series.

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