Images from Day 6 of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, at The Hampshire Bowl, in Southampton, on Wednesday.
New Zealand dished out a superb performance with ball and bat on the final day to defeat India by eight wickets and win the inaugural World Test Championship, in Southampton, on Wednesday.
The resounding victory gave the Black Caps, who ended up on the losing side in the 2019 ODI World Cup after losing the final to hosts England on boundary count, their first major ICC trophy.
They also lost the 2015 World Cup final to Australia.
The seasoned pair of skipper Kane Williamson (52) and Ross Taylor (47) put on an unbeaten 96-run partnership to easily overhaul India's 139-run target.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed openers Tom Latham (9) and Devon Conway (19) in New Zealand's second innings early, but the Indians did not have any success thereafter, having dropped dropped two catches.
India resumed on Day 6, the reserve day, of the final on 64 for 2, but none of their batsmen made any substantial contribution, save Rishabh Pant, as they were dismissed for 170 in their second innings.
Pant was their top-scorer 41 runs.
In reply, Williamson, who had a brilliant match as captain, played sublime drives in a short chase and Taylor drew on all his experience to steer the Kiwis home with much to spare despite two days of cricket being lost to rain.
New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, who had figures of 5 for 31 and 2 for 3 in the match, was named 'Man of the ICC World Test Championship final'.
Morning session
Earlier, India’s leading batsmen fell cheaply before Rishabh Pant checked the slump with an adventurous approach to guide the team to 130 for 5 at lunch.
At the break, India were 98 runs ahead, with a maximum 73 overs left in the match, which saw two full days washed out by rain.
They will be hoping to bat on for at least an hour in the post-lunch session so as to make it difficult for the New Zealand batsmen to chase down a target of around 150 in three hours.
Pant's carefree attitude may have left the Indian dressing room with hearts in their mouth before he went into the break undefeated on 28 off 48 balls.
Ravindra Jadeja was giving him company at the break with 12 off 20 balls.
The way Pant charged down and missed a lot of Neil Wagner's deliveries wasn't the prettiest sight on the cricket field, but he probably made a statement of intent, something the other star-studded batsmen failed to on the final day’s play.
India's approach, as Mohammed Shami had pointed out at the end of Day 5, was going to be "safety first" and Virat Kohli (13 off 29 balls) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15 off 80) chose to defend dourly even as their nemesis, Kyle Jamieson (2/21 in 17 overs), kept coming at them relentlessly.
The extra bounce outside the off-stump had India’s skipper poking at a wideer one and BJ Watling took the easiest of catches.
Jamieson snared Kohli for the second time in the game as he poked away from his body and was caught behind for 13.
Pujara, whose ability to grind out bowlers has reached mythical proportions, was content with a defensive approach. The pressure was always there. The India No 3 pushed tentatively at an out-swinger only to get the edge and was caught by Ross Taylor at first slip.
Jamieson's double blow left India reeling on 72 for 4, effectively 40-4.
At 72 for four, and a lead of only 40 runs, India were in a spot, but Ajinkya Rahane (15 off 40 balls) and Pant added 37 runs, largely due to the southpaw's attacking instincts.
Rahane then got a faint tickle down leg side off Trent Boult (1/37) and was caught down the leg side.
Trying to glance a short ball fine, he got an edge and was caught by Walting for 15.
However, Pant did not deviate from his plans and went into the break on an unbeaten 28, with Jadeja on 12.
Post-Lunch session
Rishabh Pant waged a lone battle as India suffered a batting disaster and were dismissed for 170 in the second innings, leaving New Zealand a 139-run target to win the World Test Championship final, in Southampton, on Wednesday.
By tea on the sixth and final day, New Zealand were 19 without loss with 120 runs to get from 45 overs in the final session.
The wicket of Rishabh Pant proved decisive, as the wicketkeeper-batsman was solely responsible for India putting up some runs on the board, as the lower order collapsed, the last four wickets falling for 14 runs in the space of 23 deliveries.
He was India's top-scorer with an aggressive 41-run knock, while Ravindra Jadeja (16), Ajinkya Rahane (15) and Mohammed Shami (13) chipped in with smaller, but vital contributions.
Tim Southee finished with four wickets for 48 runs, while Trent Boult took 3 for 39 and Jamieson 2 for 30.
If New Zealand go on to win the crown, they will be deserving winners, being able to force a result despite two full days lost due to rain.
It was one of India’s worst batting performances on a good track and sun beating down.
India caved in tamely after lunch. Neil Wagner surprised Jadeja with a full delivery, which the batsman edged and was caught behind for 16. Jadeja, who was cramped on the backfoot because of the barrage of short deliveries he faced, played from the crease, got the edge and was caught by Watling.
India lost their sixth wicket, with an overall lead of 110 runs.
Trent Boult then returned to the attack from the other end and struck with the key wicket of Pant, who came down the track, went for a big swing, but miscued it and was caught on the off-side.
Pant walked back after scoring 41, and India were trouble at 156 for 7 and an overall lead of 124 runs.
Two balls later, Boult dented India further with the wicket of Ravichandran Ashwin, who played away from his body and was caught in the slips for 7.
Mohammed Shami then went for a big swing but this time the thick outside edge carried to Tom Latham, who was stationed behind the regular slip region.
Southee ended India's innings with the wicket of Jasprit Bumrah, having him caught in the slips for a duck.
Kane Williamson is probably one of the few captains who has now got the Indian team out for less than 250 in six consecutive innings, a testimony to his brilliant cricketing acumen and near-perfect execution by his bowlers.
