On Reserve Day, New Zealand’s Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson chased down India’s 139-run total, lifting the inaugural World Test Championship trophy. They had 8 wickets in hand in the final hour of the reserve day at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton for the maiden World Test Championship victory.
As the Kiwis cruised to victory, Williamson hit his 33rd Test fifty, an unbeaten 52, while Taylor racked up 47 runs. Taylor hit the winning runs with his bat, flicking a Mohammed Shami delivery to the deep square leg fence for a boundary.
Tim Southee, who shined with the ball earlier in the day by scooping up four wickets, established the groundwork. In their second innings, India were bowled out for 170, giving New Zealand a target of 139 in 53 overs. Tom Latham and Devon Conway, the Blackcaps openers, survived the new ball but were removed by Ashwin, giving India hope.
The boundaries kept coming when Williamson and Taylor were set, and the pitch didn’t have enough to help the Indian seamers. When Pujara dropped Taylor off Bumrah’s bowling with New Zealand still needing 54 runs, it was the final nail in the coffin.
The fortune for India became bleak when they lost skipper Virat Kohli (13) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15) in the first hour of play. Kyle Jamieson, New Zealand’s outstanding paceman of the match, caused the damage by inducing the outside edge off both veteran Indian batsmen’s sticks.
As a result, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant found themselves in the middle. Rishabh Pant glided down the track for that occasional big shot, while Rahane played with care. Pant’s theatrics proved ineffective, as New Zealand pacers maintained a consistent line and length.
For a time, both batters were able to fend off the threat and keep the scoreboard ticking. Rahane (15) edged one to the keeper off Trent Boult with India’s total at 109. Rahane gained a tiny edge when looking to glance the delivery on the leg side, which led to his ejection.
Next to bat was Ravindra Jadeja, who, along with Pant, took India to lunch. After the lunch break, Jadeja and Pant looked solid again, but Neil Wagner bowled a gem to dismiss Jadeja for 16, reducing India to 142/6. Pant and Ashwin were bowled in the same over by Trent Boult as they attempted to score some quick runs to make New Zealand’s work a little more difficult when they stepped out to bat.
Mohammed Shami hit a couple of boundaries before Tim Southee sent him and Jasprit Bumrah back to the pavilion to end the innings. India were bowled out for 170 after setting New Zealand a target of 139 to win the maiden World Test Championship.
After deciding to field first, New Zealand bowled India out for 217 in the first innings, with Jamieson taking a wicket. In response, India’s bowling was led by Mohammed Shami, who took four wickets as the Kiwis were bowled out for 249, with the tailenders adding important runs to give the Kiwis a 32-run lead.
All of this occurred in just over two days of cricket, as the first two days were totally washed out owing to rain. If it hadn’t been for the reserve day, the match would have ended in a tie, with the two teams splitting the title.
