New Zealand beats India to win inaugural ICC World Test Championship
The seasoned pair of skipper Kane Williamson (52) and Ross Taylor (47) took New Zealand past the finish line with their unbeaten 96-run partnership as they overhauled the 139-run target without much fuss.
A tenacious New Zealand lifted the inaugural World Test Championship title with a comfortable eight-wicket win over India on the sixth and final day of the marquee final at The Hampshire Bowl, Suthampton on Wednesday.
It is first major ICC trophy for the Black Caps, who had ended runners-up at the 2019 ODI World Cup after losing the final to hosts England on boundary count. They had also lost the 2015 World Cup final to Australia.
WTC Final India vs New Zealand highlights: Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor put on a solid partnership as New Zealand chased down the 139-run target to beat India by 8 wickets and lift the inaugural WTC title. Ravichandran Ashwin gave India a glimmer of hope by sending back both the New Zealand openers but it was not enough. Indian batsmen performed poorly on the reserve day as they could only add 106 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. New Zealand were set a target of 139 runs to win the first-ever Test Championship after bowling out India for just 170. Due to poor weather, the game entered the reserve day.
New Zealand enjoyed the greatest triumph in their cricket history as they beat India by eight wickets in the inaugural World Test Championship final at Southampton on Wednesday. Two years on from their agonising Super Over loss to England in the 50-over World Cup final at Lord’s, New Zealand’s men claimed their first major global title. Set a victory target of just 139 in 53 overs, New Zealand finished on 140-2 with more than seven overs left after the match was extended into the reserve sixth day after two days’ play were completely washed out. Stay with Times of India to get live cricket score, ball-by-ball commentary, scorecard from the WTC Final between India and New Zealand.