India were staring at a rare Test series defeat at home, stuttering to a dejecting 178 for seven at tea on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand, here Saturday.
From a promising 81/1 at lunch, the home team lost six wickets for 97 runs, struggling to negotiate left-arm Mitchell Santner (5/72), who yet again weaved his magic around the Indian batters.
Ravindra Jadeja (4) and Ravichandran Ashwin (9) batted as the world No 2 Test side stood 181 runs away from keeping the series alive and safeguarding their record at home.
Since their 1-2 defeat to England during the 2012-13 season, Indian teams have stitched together 18 consecutive series wins on home soil but the assiduous Kiwis — led by Santner — are set to end this exemplary run.
On a pitch which was offering turn and bounce it challenged the defence and the resolve of the batters.
After another flop show in the first essay, India's famed batters came a cropper again. Captain Rohit Sharma, caught at short leg off bat-pad was the first to go down in the first session of the day.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 off 65) though took the Kiwi attack by the scruff, batting with confidence and aggression. With Shubhman Gill (23 off 31) he added 62 runs for the second wicket. The partnership broke when Gill was squared up by Santner to edge to the first slip and Jaiswal, the best of the lot by a long margin, too edged one to the first slip soon.
Superstar Virat Kohli (17) did not fight a battle remotely visible despite the best intent with which he had begun: a powerful flick for a four on the back foot was followed by some hard running for his wickets and much in resolve until Santner made him go back and forced him in front of the wickets.
Santner continued chipping away as the pitch played perfectly to his tunes, getting some deliveries to turn away from the bat while some to straighten up while pitching them all in same areas.
Jaiswal, who was beaten by one from the left-arm New Zealander before he was dismissed, could not reach to the pitch of the ball before it kissed the bat's edge to settle in Daryl Mitchell's hands.
India's woe worsened as Rishabh Pant (0) was run out due to a communication lapse with Kohli.
And in the final blow for India's resistance, Sarfaraz Khan failed to read the turn of the ball which crashed onto his off-stump as he jarred his bat into the ground in defence.
Sun 21 raced the ball past 47 deliveries for 21 as there was a break before tea as Glenn Phillips (1/37) got his name on the scoreboard by having the Indian all-rounder caught at short leg as the tea break loomed.
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