New Zealand beat India in the World Test Championship cricket final after an eight-wicket on the sixth day at Southampton.
When play began, a draw appeared inevitable, but New Zealand dismissed India and cruised to a 139-run victory as time ran out. India resumed with a 64-2 lead and a 32 run lead only for Kyle Jamieson to dismiss captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara before their lead grew to 40.
With a counter-attacking 41, Rishabh Pant gave India hope, but he skied a catch to Henry Nicholls, who clung on well going back from the gully. Pant’s wicket sparked the loss of the remaining four wickets for 14 runs, leaving India 40 runs short of a difficult mark.
With the finish line more than 100 runs away, New Zealand lost openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway but captain Kane Williamson and the seasoned Ross Taylor guided the team to victory.
As New Zealand won with seven oversremainingWilliamson finished 52 not out after overturning an lbw dismissal when on one. Taylor, who was taken down on 27 by Pujara, finished unbeaten on 47.New Zealandtriumphs in a thrilling final. This was Test cricket at its most exciting battle for runs and wickets with the clock ticking away. Throughout it all, New Zealand, as is their custom, maintained a calm demeanor, despite a boisterous audience of roughly 3,000 spectators who were mostly in favor of their opponents. The Black Caps’ batting lineup held their nerve when the bowlers broke open the game.
The openers got things going before Latham made a poor decision and was stumped by Ashwin. With 106 required, India’s off-spinner had Conway lbw Williamson was declared out lbw by umpire Michael
Gough at the crucial moment. Ashwin bowled a straight ball, and after requesting a review, the skipper was given a reprieve when ball-tracking revealed the ball would have missed leg stump.
The ecstasy of the throng gave way to somber disappointment. Following that, Williamson and Taylor weathered an early storm before expanding their 96-year partnership.
Bumrah dropped Williamson on 45, but the game was already over.
Taylor sealed the victory by flipping four through the leg side, a moment quietly celebrated by the players but excitedly cheered by a group of about 100 New Zealand fans in the stands Few would begrudge Williamson’s side a win after their sad loss to England in the 2019 World Cup final on these shores
India fails to clear the final hurdle.
India who reached the final by finishing first in the points table, ahead of second-placed New Zealand would be disappointed with their performance in this match. Despite losing a 32-run first Inning lead, they went into the final day with high aspirations, However, squandered batting ruined their aspirations.
In the sixth over of the day, Kohli was dismissed by Jamieson for the second time in the match, pushing at a wide delivery he could have left and edging through to wicketkeeper BJ Watling. In Jamieson’s next over, Pujara followed, edging to first slip when unsure whether to play or leave.
Pant’s attacking knock kept any faint hopes alive – he put up 37 with Ajinkya Rahane and 33 with Ravindra Jadeja but India’s bottom order wilted in the face of further good bowling from Tim Southee and Trent Boult when he was caught.
The Indian fans, urged on by Kohli, shouted their bowlers on, and their effort could not be blamed.
Things may have turned out differently if Pujara had taken a simple first-pitch opportunity to dismiss Taylor while 55 runs were still needed. India didn’t have enough runs to defend in the end.
They have more than a month in the UK before the start of the next Test Championship cycle on August 4, when
they play England in a five-Test series.
