The New Zealand team has headed back home with the Test maze that they received after beating India in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in Southampton by 8 wickets.
“We had a great night. The guys were obviously pretty chuffed after a fantastic game of cricket … you combine such a special moment after two years of hard work … it was fitting to push the boat out a little bit,” captain Kane Williamson was quoted as saying by ‘stuff.co.nz’.
Williamson scored a fine and unbeaten fifty in the second innings while Ross Taylor remained not out on 47 as the Blackcaps chased down 139 to be crowned as the Test champions.
Fast bowler Tim Southee also hailed the team’s achievement but admitted that there was a bit of frustration because of the weather as a couple of days had been washed away due to rain.
“Last night was brilliant. To get the job done after it went down to the wire on day six was very special. There was some emotion for the boys in the camp. There was a fair bit of frustration with the (bad) weather around,” said Southee.
Earlier, New Zealand bowled out India for 217 and later took a 32-run lead in the first innings. Kyle Jamieson scalped a fifer during the course. The Kiwis then rattled India in the second innings to bowl the Virat Kohli-led team out for 170.