Twitter Reactions: New Zealand complete 2-0 series sweep over India in Christchurch

India could add only 34 runs to their overnight before getting bowled out for 124 in their second innings.

By Aditya Gajanan Kukalyekar verified

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6 Min Read

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New Zealand. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

New Zealand have beaten India comfortably in the second Test and with it, have also won the series 2-0. The visiting batsmen needed to show nerves of steel on the third morning with the ball swinging. But there was no fight from them and the Kiwi bowlers were all over India just like the last session on the second day. Chasing 132, New Zealand were led by their openers Tom Blundell and Tom Latham as the home team won the game by seven wickets.

Earlier, India resumed at 90/6 with Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari in the middle hoping to stretch the lead as much as possible. But the latter, after playing wonderful drive off Tim Southee, was strangled down the leg-side. He shuffled a bit to make sure and flick the ball down the to the fine leg. But BJ Watling took a brilliant catch diving to his left to leave the tourists shattered in the third over of the day itself.

Trent Boult then bluffed Rishabh Pant to extend his lean run in international cricket. The left-hander never looked settled in the middle poking at almost every ball. Boult set him up nicely in three deliveries snapping his wicket in the end. At 97/8, it seemed as if India won’t even go past the 100-run mark with the way Boult and Southee were bowling.

But Ravindra Jadeja smacked a couple of good strokes to take the total past 120. Eventually, India were bundled out for 124 runs with a total lead of 131.

Blundell and Latham make light work of the chase

Virat Kohli and Co needed a miracle from their bowlers to level the series. They must have hoped for some early wickets to rock New Zealand and then pile on the pressure on the home team. But Tom Latham and Blundell just didn’t look perturbed from the word go. Jasprit Bumrah did bowl well but was unlucky not to get wickets.

To make things worse for India, Mohammed Shami’s shoulder was hurt after being hit on it while batting off Boult. Even in the pain, the pacer three overs and eventually pulled himself out of the game in the post-lunch session. Meanwhile, Latham and Blundell, with no pressure, applied themselves well and played some beautiful strokes.

The duo put on 103 runs, the first century partnership of the series, on the board and it felt as if India will lose by 10-wickets yet again. But Umesh Yadav came to the rescue to avoid the ignominy. He bounced out Latham on 52 which was the only consolation for him in the second innings. Kane Williamson and Blundell were then expected to complete the formalities.

But the Kiwi captain was undone by a well-directed short ball from Bumrah and the same bowler then castled Blundell with a brilliant delivery. However, Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls then made sure there were no more hiccups in the chase and helped New Zealand complete the 2-0 series sweep.

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