New Zealand triumphs over India to clinch the first World Test Championship

Skipper Kane Williamson and veteran Ross Taylor displayed resilience as New Zealand chased down the 139-run mark with 8 wickets in hand in the final hour of the reserve day to defeat India and win the first World Test Championship championship at Southampton's Ageas Bowl.

NEW ZEALAND ARE THE INAUGURAL ICC WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS #WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | @BLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/HMIaYI32Az

— ICC (@ICC) June 23, 2021

Opening the day at 2/64, India required its two most experienced batsmen, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, to bat for the majority of the duration of the first session.

Kyle Jamieson, on the other hand, had different plans, as he set up both Kohli and Pujara for consecutive wicket losses in the opening hour.

Jamieson's first victim was Virat Kohli, who got lured into edging the away-going ball after being disturbed by the oncoming deliveries. He gave Team India another loss by when he ousted Cheteshwar Pujara.

Trent Boult removed Ajinkya Rahane against the run of play, bringing New Zealand one step closer to become ICC World Test Champions.

Neil Wagner stuck with his short pitch strategy against Ravindra Jadeja, and he was rewarded handsomely when he got one to cut across the left-hander and remove his outside edge.

Boult took out both Rishbah Pant and Ashwin, India collapsed for 170 runs with an overall lead of 138 runs after Mohammed Shami batted a few strokes before getting out, while Jasprit Bumrah lasted only 4 balls.

After the tea break, Ravichandran Ashwin devoured both Tom Latham and Devon Conway.

Tom Latham was first removed by the off-spinner, who was stumped while attempting to hoike him across the line. Conway got outdone by the spin of the ball as it hit his front pad, which lead to a Leg Before ethe wicket.

The experienced pair of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, on the other hand, guaranteed that there were no last-minute surprises as New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket victory to claim the maiden ICC World Test Championship, the first ICC Title for the nation after the year 2000.