New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell believes the Indian team has been left a bit shell-shocked in terms of happenings in the first two Tests at Bengaluru and Pune. In the first two matches of the series, New Zealand got wins by eight wickets and 113 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead, making it their first-ever Test series win in India. It also meant a visiting team won a Test series in India after 12 years. The Tom Latham-led New Zealand, who came after a 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka, are now aiming for a series sweep through the third Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, starting from Friday.

“They’re a little bit shell-shocked. When we first came over, I think they had a slogan on TV saying five-nil for their home summer, or something along those lines. I’m pretty sure they wrote us off coming after Sri Lanka.”

“But I think they’re pretty shocked in terms of what we’ve achieved, and how we’ve come out and competed and played some really good cricket to beat these guys – one of the best teams in the world. I think they’re a little bit shell-shocked in terms of what has happened,” said Blundell to SEN Radio.

After the game in Mumbai, New Zealand will host England for three Tests at home, and Blundell said the side will begin their home summer filled with happiness and pride on winning a Test series in India.

“You’ve got the World Test Championship still on the line, that’s something that motivates us as well. But it’s going to be a challenge. India are probably hurting from this. But regardless of the result, we can go home with a pretty big smile on our faces.”

“What we’ve achieved here is pretty immense, it’s probably one of the biggest highlights of my career. We’re excited. We’ve got a possibility of beating them 3-0. But regardless of that, we’re pretty chuffed.”

Sri Lanka were just five wickets away from a crushing second Test and series victory over New Zealand on Saturday with the tourists 199-5 at stumps on third day, having followed on after collapsing to 88 all out in their first innings. Tom Blundell was not out 47 and Glenn Phillips on 32 when bad light forced an early end to play in Galle after debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris took three top-order wickets. Devon Conway, battling to save both his team and his place in the side, joined forces with former captain Kane Williamson in a dogged 97-run partnership for the second wicket. 

De Silva lured Conway, who had made 61 off 62 balls, into a drive towards the vacant deep cover boundary that was caught by Dinesh Chandimal in a spectacular backward running catch.

Williamson, the world’s second-ranked batsman behind England’s Joe Root, departed when he misjudged a shot off Peiris, with Ramesh Mendis grabbing a tumbling catch at long-on. 

Tom Latham had been the first wicket to fall after the follow-on was enforced just before lunch, caught by Pathum Nissanka for a duck at short leg off Peiris, who earlier had taken three first-innings wickets. 

Sri Lanka declared Friday on a mammoth 602-5 for in their first innings then spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took 6-42 for his ninth five-wicket haul as the visitors failed to get to three figures.

Jayasuriya will need to dismiss all five remaining New Zealand batsman to equal the record for fastest bowler to 100 Test wickets, held since 1896 by England’s George Lohmann who reached the milestone in his 16th Test.

Resuming at a precarious 22-2 in their first innings, New Zealand’s batsmen barely put up a fight and their highest partnership was the 20 added by last pair Mitchell Santner, who top scored with 29, and William O’Rourke (two). 

Captain de Silva took five catches at first slip to tie the record for most in a Test innings by a non-wicketkeeper, a milestone shared with 15 others.