New Zealand's Santner unstoppable despite spike in workload, sore side

Mitchell Santner played through the pain barrier as New Zealand secured their maiden series win in India going back to 1955 and the left-arm spinner said picking up wickets regularly in the second test had helped him persevere.

After an eight-wicket success in Bengaluru, New Zealand won the second match in Pune by 113 runs on Saturday and ended their opponents' proud home streak of 18 successive series victories against any country stretching back to 2012.

Santner spearheaded New Zealand's effort, going unchanged for 29 overs during India's second innings despite a sore side and claimed 6-104 to finish with a stellar match total of 13 wickets after his 7-53 in the first innings.

"My side's a little sore. Must be the spike in my workloads, 20-odd overs there," Santner said.

"I felt it a little bit early on in my spell but I guess in that kind of situation you just want to keep going for the team and every time I'd get a wicket, it felt a little better."

Santner's effort was the third-best haul in a match by a visiting bowler in India, behind only teammate Ajaz Patel, who bagged 14-225 at Mumbai in 2021, and England's Ian Botham, who picked up 13-106 at the same venue in 1980.

"I've been in and out (of the test side) and to get these conditions and put in a shift like that is pleasing," Santner added to New Zealand media on Sunday.

"To do it against India, beat them at their own game. That was the most pleasing thing for us in that second test.

"... In Bengaluru we got the best of conditions, especially at the start. After that it was a grind. Over here, we out-spun them, outplayed them in their home conditions."

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