Yahoo Finance New Zealand beat India late on sixth day to win inaugural World Test Championship
New Zealand have won the inaugural World Test Championship after they produced an unforgettable victory over India late on a superb sixth day in Southampton.
New Zealand have suffered a series of agonising defeats in ICC events, and this is their first title since 2000, when they won the Champions Trophy.
After two days were lost to rain, the reserve day was triggered and, with the game in the balance, New Zealand sprung to life. India were skittled for 170 in their second innings, leaving a target of 139 for the Black Caps to chase.
A half-century – just the second of the match – from skipper Kane Williamson, in an unbroken partnership of 96 with the veteran Ross Taylor (47 not out), saw them ease home by eight wickets after half-past-six local time. Williamson left it to Taylor – possibly playing his 108th and final Test – to club the winning runs through the legside, sparking riotous celebrations among the Kiwi players and a large group of their fans at the ground.
With the ball, Kyle Jamieson was New Zealand’s hero. He prised out Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara in the morning session, with Trent Boult picking up Ajinka Rahane. Jamieson would finish with remarkably parsimonious figures of 24-10-30-2, and seven wickets in the match.
Rishabh Pant led India’s resistance with some audacious strokes after lunch but Neil Wagner dismissed his partner, Ravindra Jadeja, then Trent Boult struck twice in an over. Henry Nicholls took a sensational catch to see off Pant, then R.Ashwin edged to Taylor at first slip. The tail followed pretty promptly to Tim Southee, setting New Zealand 139.
Tom Latham and Devon Conway gave New Zealand a tidy start to their chase, before both were dismissed by Ashwin, sparking a little Kiwi panic. Williamson and Taylor remained composed, though, to guide New Zealand to an historic victory.
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