Cricket

New Zealand's dominance over India continued in the second Test in Pune, as they extended their lead to a commanding 301 runs on the back of a brilliant batting performance led by captain Tom Latham.Mitchell Santner, who had wreaked havoc with the ball in the first innings, claiming seven wickets, continued his impressive form with the bat. He scored a crucial 45, providing stability to the New Zealand innings.Latham, however, was the star of the show. He played a captain's knock, anchoring the innings with a composed 86. His innings was characterized by patience and determination, as he weathered the Indian bowling attack and guided his team to a position of strength.Tom Blundell, who remained unbeaten on 30, provided valuable support to Latham. The duo shared a crucial 65-run partnership, further consolidating New Zealand's lead.India's bowlers, led by Washington Sundar, fought back in the second innings, claiming four wickets. However, the damage had already been done, as New Zealand's batsmen had built a substantial lead.With just one day remaining in the Test, India faces an uphill task to salvage a draw. New Zealand, on the other hand, is on the cusp of a historic series win in India.

India's batting woes continued in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, as they were bowled out for a paltry 156 in their first innings, handing the visitors a commanding 103-run lead. This marks the second consecutive home Test where India has conceded a lead of over 100 runs, a feat not seen in 23 years.The collapse began on Day 1, when India lost captain Rohit Sharma for a duck, leaving them at 16/1 overnight. On Day 2, the top-order showed some promise, with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal taking the score to 50/1. However, Gill's dismissal triggered a catastrophic collapse, with India losing nine wickets for 106 runs in just over 24 overs.Mitchell Santner led the charge for New Zealand, claiming career-best figures of 7 for 53. Ravindra Jadeja's late resistance of 38 off 46 balls was the only notable contribution from the Indian batters.This latest batting failure follows India's shocking collapse in the previous Test in Bengaluru, where they were bowled out for 46, their lowest home total. The back-to-back collapses have raised concerns about India's batting depth and resilience.The last time India conceded 100-plus leads in back-to-back home Tests was in 2001 against Australia. Despite this unwanted record, India famously came back to win that series, and they will be hoping for a similar resurgence against New Zealand.However, the task ahead is daunting. New Zealand's substantial first-innings lead has put India in a difficult position. The hosts will need to bat with much greater determination and resilience in their second innings to stay competitive in the match and series.

New Zealand's relentless bowling attack has put India on the back foot in the second Test in Mumbai, leaving the hosts with a daunting task to avoid a series defeat.On a challenging pitch that offered significant turn, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips wreaked havoc on the Indian batting lineup, claiming six wickets between them. Santner's persistent and accurate bowling proved too much for the Indian batsmen, while Phillips' variations kept them guessing.India's struggles began early on, with Shubman Gill falling to Santner in the 11th over. Virat Kohli's dismissal for 1, bowled by a full toss, further dented India's hopes. Phillips then dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, both caught behind, to leave India reeling at 57 for 4.The pressure continued to mount as Sarfaraz Khan and Ravichandran Ashwin also fell cheaply. With the pitch offering little respite, India's batsmen found it increasingly difficult to score runs.Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are now tasked with the unenviable task of rescuing India from a precarious position. However, with New Zealand's bowlers in such impressive form, the hosts face an uphill battle to avoid a series defeat.

Mitchell Santner has been appointed as New Zealand's interim captain for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled for November. The 15-man squad includes two debutants: bowling allrounder Nathan Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay.Smith, 25, has impressed with his performances for Wellington in domestic white-ball competitions, earning him the NZC's Men's Domestic Player of the Year award in March. Hay, who made his New Zealand A debut last year, has also shown promise.The pace attack will be led by Lockie Ferguson, supported by Smith, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, and Josh Clarkson. Tim Robinson, who excelled on his maiden international tour to Pakistan, has also been included.Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips will provide spin-bowling allround support, while Dean Foxcroft offers offspin options. Legspinner Ish Sodhi, with 117 T20I appearances, brings experience to the squad.Glenn Phillips, Will Young, and Henry Nicholls will bolster the batting lineup. Nicholls had a strong Ford Trophy campaign last summer, scoring 301 runs in six games.Six members of the New Zealand Test squad in India will join the white-ball team in Sri Lanka after the conclusion of the third Test in Mumbai. The New Zealand-based players will depart for Sri Lanka on November 4 ahead of the first T20I in Dambulla on November 9.Chief selector Sam Wells emphasized the importance of building depth for future events, including the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 and the 2027 ODI World Cup.Head coach Gary Stead will lead the group, assisted by bowling coach Jacob Oram. Former England international James Foster will rejoin New Zealand as their batting coach, while Luke Ronchi focuses on the start of the New Zealand home summer.

Catches Win Matches: Mitchell Santner's Stunning Grab for Northern SuperchargersThe adage "catches win matches" has been proven true countless times in the annals of cricket history. A spectacular catch can turn the tide of a game, and such was the case in the recent match between Northern Superchargers and London Spirit in The Hundred at Headingley, Leeds.London Spirit, batting first, saw their innings opened by Michael Pepper and Keaton Jennings. In the 11th over, Pepper attempted to loft a delivery from Reece Topley over mid-on. Mitchell Santner, fielding at that position, gave chase.With his eyes fixed on the swirling ball, Santner charged back from mid-on and executed a breathtaking catch with a dive at deep mid-on. Pepper was dismissed for 3, leaving London Spirit reeling at 111/8 after their 100 balls.Santner's catch was a testament to his exceptional fielding skills and quick reflexes. It not only removed a dangerous batsman but also boosted the morale of the Northern Superchargers team.The catch was widely praised on social media, with many fans hailing it as one of the best catches of the tournament. The official Twitter handle of The Hundred shared a video of the catch, which quickly went viral.Northern Superchargers went on to win the match by 21 runs (DLS Method), thanks in no small part to Santner's stunning catch. It was a reminder that even in the fast-paced world of modern cricket, the art of fielding remains paramount.

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign has faced a "chaotic start" due to logistical challenges, according to all-rounder Mitchell Santner. The team opted for extra training sessions instead of an official warm-up game, with players arriving in three batches because of IPL commitments.Despite the initial disruptions, Santner expressed confidence that New Zealand can "really settle in" now that they have moved to Guyana, where they will play their opening group match against Afghanistan on June 8."It's been a chaotic kind of start with people coming in at different times," Santner said. "But we are here now in Guyana, a good week or so to get some good prep done for our first game."The World Cup is being played across nine venues in the Caribbean and the USA, with New Zealand scheduled to play one of their Group C matches in Guyana and three in Tarouba. Santner acknowledged that there is a "little bit of the unknown" about the competition, especially with opponents such as Uganda and Papua New Guinea."It's obviously good to watch [the first few games]. I think that's going to be a common theme in the World Cup, you know, different places will play very differently," he said. "We obviously know what West Indies are capable of doing, but we are not really sure of the other guys."New Zealand is relying on their experienced players, including Kane Williamson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, and Ish Sodhi, who have played in the Caribbean Premier League, to provide insights into the conditions."As a squad, we have guys who played a lot," Santner said. "And then there are few guys who know these conditions. Glenn has played a lot of CPL and a few other boys as well. Channelling that kind of information is going to be big to hit the ground running."