ICC World Test Championship Final 2021.
New Zealand VS India Played at Hampshire Bowl, Southampton, June 18-23, 2021 
Brief Scorecard
India 1st Innings 217 All Out in 92.1 Overs (Ajinka Rahane 49, Virat Kohli 44, Rohit Sharma 34, Shuvman Gill 28, Ravichandra Ashwin 22, Ravindra Jadeja 15, Kyle Jamieson 5/ 31, Neil Wagner 2/40, Trent Boult 2/ 47) 
India 2nd Innings 170 All Out In 92.1 Overs  (Rishabh Pant 41, Rohit Sharma 30, Cheteswar Pujara 12* , Tim Southee 4/ 48, Trent Boult 3/ 39, Kyle Jamieson 2/30 ) 
New Zealand 1st Innings 249 All Out in 99.2 Overs (Devon Conway 54, Kane Williamson 49, Tim Southee 30, Kyle Jamieson 21, Mohammad Sami 4/ 76, Ishant Sharma 3/48, Ravichndra Ashwin 2/ 28, Ravindra Jadeja 1/15) 
New Zealand 2nd Innings 140/2 (Kane Williamson 52*, Ross Taylor 47*, Ravichandra Ashwin 2/17 ) 
New Zealand Won by 8 Wickets 
Player of The Match: Kyle Jamieson.

Green and heavenly the Queen of the Southern Hemisphere New Zealand is basking with glory having won the first ever ICC World Test Cricket Championship Trophy overwhelming the mighty Indians by 8 wickets at Hampshire Bowl Southampton. 

India struggling all the way against top quality penetrative pace attack of New Zealand managed scoring 217 in the first innings. Tall crafty Kyle Jamieson tormented Indian batting taking 5/ 31 . Red Duke Cherry swung through out the 92.1 Overs . Indian bowlers also bounced back when New Zealand batted as they managed scoring 249 all out owing greatly to brilliant 54 from Rookie Conway and responsible 49 from King Kane. Sami (4/76) and Ishant (3/48) looked as menacing as the Kiwi bowlers . But Kiwi tail wagged and earned invaluable 32 runs lead. In the second innings four-pronged Kiwi pace battery fired again humiliating the mighty Indians to 170 All out. Southee (4/ 48) and Boult (3/39) were the tormentors. Jamieson again chipped in squeezing out Kohli and Pujara . Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor led the victory march of the Kiwis weaving an unbeaten 96 runs 3rd wicket partnership. It was a great team effort when the entire team contributed. 

Winning the match on the exceptional day 23 June (The Longest Day in the Northern Hemisphere) in the last hour of the extended 6th day of the test the tiny nation of only 5 Million stunned 1.3 Billion adoring cricket lovers of India. To many it was a poetic justice as New Zealand also all but won the ICC World Cup at Lords in 2019 on arithmetic calculation. The Ice Cool Kane Willamson led New Zealand dominated Fire Glow Virat Kohli led Team India all through the rain impacted final. It would have been injustice if rain or bad weather had led the match drift to a drawn affair. Instead, bright sunshine heralded Hampshire Rose Bowl. Kanes men cut through Indian batting restricting them to 170 all out in the 2nd Innings. Very professional Williamson and Taylor (the two long serving heroes of Kiwi Cricket) clinically wrapped up the match with 96 runs unbroken 3rd wicket partnership. 

World Cricket was divided in pre match preview about the one off final of the first WTC being held in England in unusual English Summer. It was actually due to be held at Lords. But considering the great facilities of Bio Bubble at Hampshire Bowl the venue was shifted.  Rain is an integral part of Cricket in England. Rain was in the forecast and that was why after a long time an extra 6th day was provided for reminding all, that once timeless test was in practice for reaching a result.
First and the fourth day of the match were completely washed out without a ball being bowled. The second, third and the fifth day were also partially impacted. Ironically the sun shined on day six and clear blue sky made it a glorious day for cricket. 

The final day started with India struggling at 64/2, only 32 runs ahead. India’s hope for survival heavily rested on the two-top batsman of modern-day cricket vintage Virat Kohli and India’s new Wall Cheteswar Pujara. On the best day for batting of the test under sun shining blue sky all expected that India would survive if not rally to set a challenging target for the Kiwis.

Kane unleashed a masterstroke bringing in Jamieson on the attack ahead of usual Boult pairing with Southee. Tall lanky Jamieson changing his length to teasing line immediately caused discomfort for champion Indian batsmen. Some of his pacey in swingers created confusion. Kohli and Pujara were priced out. Punt could also be gone if Southee could have held on to the catch in the slip. However, there was no relief from relentless quality pace attack. When Southee and Jamieson tired a little bit Boult and Wegner took control. Pant and Jadeja tried to counter punch. But Southee, Boult and Wegner proved too good to negotiate. In between lunch and tea India collapsed losing 5 wickets for 40 runs. Getting wrapped up for 170 India could set a 139 runs target which the Kiwis overhauled comfortably scoring 140/2. 

Going by the way New Zealand Cricket evolved over the past few years it was fitting that it won the first ever WTC Final. They have a formidable all round team. Their pace attack now with the emergence of Kyle Jamieson in addition to Southee, Boult, Wegner can be rated with great West Indians of 1970s and 1980s. They have some of the coolest batsman to provide backbone to their batting and they are arguably the best fielding team now. New players like Conway. Jamieson, Young, Bundle, Santner, Patel, along with Henry and Ferguson would soon make Kiwis impregnable in all format. As long as Kane Williamson is their pilot Black Caps would keep rocking in all formats.  World cricket has lot to learn from a nation of only 5 million peace loving people. 

Coming to England earlier and playing two tests against England also help them better adjust to English condition and Duke Ball. However, these cannot be excuses for India losing. They were well and truly out played . 

BDST: 1143 HRS, JUN 24, 2021
SMS