IND vs NZ Live Score: Day 2, Session 2 in a nutshell

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 consolidate 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 the points came too easily for New Zealand, who are looking for a strong total to boost their chances of a first series win in India.

India are seeking a 19th straight home series win since the 2-1 defeat to England in 2012, but will need a battle to draw level with New Zealand ahead of the final 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 the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, where Washington bagged 7-59 on the first day.

The hosts resumed at 16-1 after losing captain Rohit Sharma to a nine-ball duck, and Shubman Gill was fortunate to survive a loud appeal for lbw on Santner’s third ball of the morning when he was on 10.

Back in the side after missing the opening defeat in Bengaluru due to a stiff neck, Gill shook off the early scare and went on the attack, hitting paceman Tim Southee for a six.

Santner trapped Gill plumb in front for 30 and the left-armer struck again, bowling Virat Kohli out for one with an inviting full toss that the batsman missed completely, while two quick strokes sent India into turmoil.

Yashasvi Jaiswal drove and swept the bowlers and looked a lot more comfortable at the other end, although the left-hander was lucky as his slog sweep off Ajaz Patel fell into no man’s land when he was on 16.

Daryl Mitchell took a sharp catch at slip when Phillips dismissed Jaiswal for 30 and the tourists could have got another had the fielder saved a difficult chance as Santner forced an edge onto Sarfaraz Khan’s sword.

Rishabh Pant was bowled for 18 by Phillips after a loose shot and Santner had Sarfaraz caught for 11 to leave India at 95-6 on the ropes, with both their batting heroes from the opening game back in the dugout.

Santner trapped Ashwin lbw for four and similarly removed Ravindra Jadeja after the batsman made a challenging 38, before getting one through Akash Deep’s defence.

He then snared Jasprit Bumrah for a duck to ensure New Zealand would start their second innings with a 103-run lead, leaving India needing a big bowling effort to prevent the game from slipping further.