New Zealand defeated India in the final of ICC World Test Championship played at Southampton, England. Despite rain playing spoilsport in the final of the first-ever test championship and causing wash-out of two full days of cricket, the match went on to the reserve day in which the Kiwis chased down the 139 runs set up by the men in blue.
The reserve day started with India batting at 64 for two while captain Virat Kohli (8) and Mr Dependable Cheteshwar Pujara (12) resumed the day’s play. However, the Indians could make only 170 runs in their second innings. As they were trailing by 32 runs after New Zealand ended their first innings on 249 in return of India’s first innings total of 217. For India, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant scored 41 and opener Rohit Sharma hit 30 runs. For New Zealand bowlers, Tim Southee took 4 wickets while Boult scraped 3, Jamieson 2 and Wagner 1 wicket.
New Zealand started their second innings sedately with openers making brisk progress. They chased down India’s total in 46th over with captain Kane Williamson hitting 51 runs and veteran Ross Taylor remaining unbeaten on 47 runs. For India, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed 2 wickets.
What surprised Indian fans is that the famed Indian pace troika of Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah failed to make any impression. In New Zealand’s first innings, Shami had taken 4 wickets while Sharma took 3. But Bumrah failed to take any wicket in this match.