After taking a 103-run lead on the second day of the second cricket Test, New Zealand extended their lead to 188 runs against India in Pune on Friday. Captain Tom Latham shook off his first-innings failure to notch up 37 runs as he spearheaded the charge in the second innings. New Zealand were 85/2 at tea.
Washington Sundar sent back Devon Conway for 17 while Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Will Young for 23, but runs came too easily for New Zealand, who are eyeing a strong total to boost their chances of a maiden series win in India.
Mitchell Santner had earlier posted career-best figures of 7-53, while Glenn Phillips took 2-26 as spin bowlers continued to excel at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, where Washington bagged 7-59 on the first day.
India, seeking a 19th straight home series victory since a 2-1 defeat by England in 2012, will be batted out of this match and possibly the series if the lead extends beyond 200 runs. The home team will need an excellent batting effort to draw level with New Zealand ahead of the finale in Mumbai early next month.
In the morning session, India's vaunted batting line-up came up short against a disciplined line of spin bowling on a wicket that allowed turn and natural variation. New Zealand spinners bowled with control to leave the home team tottering at 100 for 7 at lunch.
Virat Kohli, who reached the milestone of 9,000 Test runs in the last match, failed yet again in the first innings of a Test. His uncharacteristic swipe at a full toss from Mitchell Santner that knocked his leg stump over encapsulated Indian batting in the morning session.
Before Kohli's quick exit, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Subman Gill started the day cautiously. Gill survived a confident appeal from Santner before he freed his arm against Tim Southee for a straight six. But that was the only act of aggression as he was trapped in front when he pushed at a ball that came straight.
Glenn Phillips needed only four balls to make a mark as he extracted an edge from Jaiswal when he pushed at a quicker delivery. Rishabh Pant was his next victim when the Indian 'keeper-batter jumped at a flatter ball on off stump. But he missed the line completely and was bowled, leaving India at 83 for 5.
Santner then left India reeling when Safaraz Kahn popped a simple catch to mid-on and trapped Ravichandran Ashwin in front with a ball that came with the arm.
At lunch, India were trailing by 152 runs with the last pair of recognised batters at the crease.