A bowling attack of Boult, Southee, Wagner and Jamieson... GEEZ, that's scary! Kane Williamson continues to show his class as a batsmen as he leads his side to number one in the ICC World Test Rankings. It's a great moment for New Zealand cricket as their golden generation is taking over. The players are engaging with the fans before heading back into the dressing room, thanking them for their support and signing autographs for the kids, as they continue to inspire the next generation!
That's it from me, Pratyush and my friend Vasisht. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of this enthralling test match! Stay tuned as the cricketing action resumes down under, with the BBL in Australia. See ya!
That ends the Test summer for New Zealand as they win all four matches and jump to number one in the World Test Rankings. Kane Williamson has hit another level with his batting and cementing his stance as the number one Test batsmen in the world. He got 600 runs in three matches, how's that for consistency? BJ Watling and Henry Nicholls were amongst other positives for their side as they did a solid job in the middle order.
The New Zealand bowlers put in a stellar performance as well! The experienced and usually reliable Southee and Boult did their bit but it was Kyle Jamieson who stole the show. He had a brilliant series, grabbing 11 wickets in this match, as he troubled the Pakistani batsmen throughout the series. The contribution of Neil Wagner cannot go unnoticed in the Boxing Day Test, as he continued to play with two broken toes, but persisted as he helped his side to a victory in that game.
For Pakistan, it's perhaps not the case to go back to the drawing board, even after being thoroughly dominated in the series. There were moments in both Test matches where they had the chance to get on top of New Zealand but it just didn't happen for them as their fielding continued to let them down.
Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan captain : I take responsibility. I didn't keep well, and the fielding wasn't great. The bowlers created opportunities but we weren't taking the catches. We tried but didn't do well. We learnt a lot on this tour, We failed in all departments. Congratulations to New Zealand for playing well. The biggest difference between the teams was Jamieson.
Kane Wiiliamson is awarded the Player of the Series.
Kane Williamson : It's an incredible couple of games. Even though the result on paper was in our favour, but Pakistan is a quality side. We worked hard and got lucky with a few moments. Kyle is a special cricketer. He's gone a long way to moving this team forward and complementing the bowling attack. Daryl bats higher and bowls a few more overs, but the attitude both of them brought in was great to see. I am sure there are many more hundreds to come Daryl's way. It was a real battle for a long time. The runs were tough to come by as Pakistan bowled great lines. The openers gave us a great start and Nicholls batted with a calf muscle injury and it was an incredible effort. Really pleasing performance, nice to finish the Test summer on a high.
Kyle Jamieson is awarded the Man of the match.
Kyle Jamieson: We had to graft away for decent periods of time. As a bowling unit, we were clinical. From my point of view, just sit back and learn. We have got the four pronged attack. I am the fourth prong. Try and observe what these guys have done for the years. I will give it to my old cricket club (when asked about a 500 dollar donation on behalf of the main sponsors).
A thumping victory for the New Zealand side in this second Test. Kyle Jamieson leads the team off the field, with a stump in his hand, which he has picked up as a souvenir to remember this special occasion. A decent first innings total by Pakistan had given their bowlers enough to bowl at and the bowlers did pretty well but it was their fielding that let them down once again! The game was hanging in the balance on Day 2 but the Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson, alongside Henry Nicholls took the game away from the sub-continent side, both smashing a double hundred and a 157 respectively. The skipper then supported Daryl Mitchell, who also got his maiden century in Test cricket, to put the Blackcaps in a commanding position with a mammoth total of 659 on the board.
It was always going to be a mountain to climb for the Pakistan batsmen from there on and they were demolished by the Kyle Jamieson and the New Zealand bowlers. The tall Kiwi got 6 wickets in the second innings, 11 in the match, as he dismantled the Pakistan batting line up on Day 4 to complete a comprehensive victory for his side!
Zafar was not going down without fight there, beating his previous high score of 34, which was in the first innings. The entertaining knock comes to an end and Pakistan are done here! A dominating performance all round by the Kiwi's as they walk off the field to the chants of "Number one" by the fans, becoming the number one Test side for the first time in their history!
New Zealand beat Pakistan by an innings and 176 runs.
81.4 Trent Boult to Zafar Gohar, OUT! It's all over! Zafar, who was swinging like a rusty gate last 4 overs, manages to find the deep fielder in this well-timed clip off a length ball on middle-leg. It was a matter of time and that time was the fourth ball of the 81st over.
81.3 Trent Boult to Zafar Gohar, loosener on middle, knuckle ball that was a full toss, Zafar gets this away to deep square
81.2 Trent Boult to Zafar Gohar, BOWLED! PLAYED! super yorker on middle-leg, digs that out nicely
81.1 Trent Boult to Zafar Gohar, length ball on middle, Zafar swings hard and misses
Trent Boult comes into the attack.
Zafar's made up his mind on attacking every single delivery now. He really went after Southee in that over but it's surely a matter of time before he edges or mistimes one and that'll be curtains for Pakistan in this game and indeed the series.
80.6 Tim Southee to Zafar Gohar, length ball, Gohar misses that wild cover-slog, they take a bye on the keeper's collection!
80.5 Tim Southee to Zafar Gohar, FOUR! Zafar going down swinging! Tim follows him but Zafar dissects the two deep square fielders with precision with a well connected pull
80.4 Tim Southee to Zafar Gohar, short ball on middle, Zafar pulls it on front of square, Santner does well to collect it and release it quicly, almost gets Shaheen out in the non-striker's end. Two runs.
80.3 Tim Southee to Zafar Gohar, same ball, same shot, this time BJ will collect it
80.2 Tim Southee to Zafar Gohar, FOUR! SHOT! good length outside off, Zafar extends his arms with an outstretched right leg and sends it away over cover
80.1 Tim Southee to Zafar Gohar, WILD. Zafar makes room even before the ball is bowled, Tim follows him, no damage done
Total Score
Bowlers
Fall of Wickets
