Thanks to Tim Southee and Trent Boult brilliance, New Zealand crushed India by 10 wickets on the fourth day of first Test match played at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Monday. This was their first defeat in ICC Test Championship.
Starting on the overnight score of 144 for 4, it was not an ideal start for the visitors as Ajiyanka Rahane was dismissed by Trent Boult for 29. In the next over, Southee bowled a beauty to dismiss Hanuma Vihari. Rishabh Pant looked confident with his stroke play, but Ashwin got out for just 4 runs. Ishant Sharma was solid with his defensive technique and added 27 runs for the 8th wicket. Grandhomme dismissed Ishant Sharma while Southee got the wicket of Pant. New Zealand took the 2nd new ball after it was available. Southee got his 5th wicket of the innings to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah. India scored 191 runs in their 2nd innings and got 8 runs lead.
Tom Blundell and Tom Latham scored the winning runs without losing a wicket. New Zealand registered a 10 wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in 2 match Test series. It was a dominating performance by New Zealand right from word go as they took the advantage of the bowling conditions to dismiss India for 165 runs in their first innings.
Ishant Sharma was brilliant in the first innings taking 5 for 68. Despite his efforts, India gave a big lead of 183 runs due to lower order resistance by Colin de Grandhomme, Jamieson and Trent Boult. In their second innings again, India batsmen failed to score big runs and were bowled out for 191 runs. Mayank Agarwal was the top scorer with 58.
Tim Southee and Trent Boult were simply sensational in the 2nd innings to wreak havoc among Indian batsmen.
New Zealand 348 in 100.2 overs (Kane Williamson 89, Taylor 44, Jamieson 44, Ishant Sharma 5/68 , Ashwin 3/99) and 9 for 0 in 1.4 overs ( Tom Latham 7*, Blundell 2*) beat India 165 in 68.1 overs ( Rahane 46, Agarwal 34, Tim Southee 4/49, Jamieson 4/39)) and 191 in 81 overs ( Mayank Agarwal 58, Rahane 29, Southee 5/61 Trent Boult 4/39) by 10 wickets.
Southee for his 10 wickets in the test match was awarded the man of the match. The 2nd Test match will be played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch from 29th February.
