Tom Latham’s gritty half-century proved crucial as New Zealand took a 301-run lead against India on Day 2 of their second Test match in Pune on Friday.

The visiting captain scored 86 runs from 133 balls and New Zealand posted 198/5 at Stumps. He lost his wicket to Washington Sundar, who picked his 11th wicket of the match. New Zealand are now favorites to do something that has looked increasingly impossible in recent years – winning a Test series in India. New Zealand have never won a Test series in the country.

Mitchell Santner was the star for New Zealand as India lost nine wickets for just 106 runs on Day 2 of the second Test in Pune. New Zealand started quickly despite Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin taking a couple of wickets before Tea. The visitors were 85/2 at the break, leading by 188 runs.

India were all out for just 156 in reply to New Zealand’s 259 and conceded a first innings lead of 103 runs. Santner, who had never managed to take more than three wickets in a Test innings before this, returned figures of 7/53 while Glenn Phillips took two. Pacer Tim Southee got the only wicket of Rohit Sharma towards the end of Day 1.

India’s middle order collapsed in a heap either side of the drinks break in the first session and they never recovered from it. Shubman Gill looked to have made a fluent start to the day but Mitchell Santner ended his progression in the 22nd over. Gill fell for 30 off 72 balls, putting on a 49-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the second wicket. Virat Kohli soon followed, missing a full toss from Santner and losing his stumps. This brought out Rishabh Pant to give Jaiswal company. However, that position did not last long as Jaiswal was dismissed by Glenn Phillips immediately after the drinks break. Phillips then took Pant too with the Indian batter trying to get across the line and missing the ball entirely.

India resumed batting at 16/1 on Day 2 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune on Friday. They bowled 11 overs on Day 1, at the end of which Jaiswal had six runs and Gill had 10. Rohit Sharma’s wicket was the only one India lost, with the skipper falling to Tim Southee for a duck with nine balls.

India vs New Zealand Day 2 2nd Test Highlights:

– New Zealand 198/5 in 53 overs at Stumps, led by 301 runs

– Washington Sundar removes Tom Latham for the 11th wicket

– Tom Latham reached his half-century in 82 balls

– New Zealand 85/2 at Tea, led by 188 runs

– India all out for 156 runs, concede a first innings lead of 103

– India 107/7 at lunch, trail by 152 runs

– India lost five wickets for just 53 runs at the start of the first session

– Virat Kohli was dismissed by Santner for just one run

– Shubman Gill fell to Mitchell Santner on 30 off 72

– Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal made 49 runs for the second wicket

– India started the day on 16/1 trailing New Zealand by 243 runs

– Rohit Sharma fell for a nine-ball duck on Day 1

– New Zealand were all out for 259 with Washington Sundar returning figures of 7/59