IND vs NZ, 1st Test: Kiwis Beat India By 10 Wickets In Wellington Test, Take 1-0 Lead

Speaking after the loss, skipper Virat Kohli said,"Toss turned out to be very important. As a batting unit we take pride in being competitive, but we weren't. Even scoring 220-230 would've been good"

Photo: ICC (Twitter)

Wellington: Top bowling performance from Trent Boult (4/39) and Tim Southee (5/61) helped New Zealand inflict a humiliating defeat on India to win their 100th Test by 10 wickets and go 1-0 up in the two-match Test series. Team India's embarrassing loss in the opening Test at Wellington is their first defeat in the ICC World Test Championship. Tim Southee was declared the Player of the Match for his 9 wickets in the Test, including his 10th 5 wicket haul. Speaking after the loss, skipper Virat Kohli said,"Toss turned out to be very important. As a batting unit we take pride in being competitive, but we weren't. Even scoring 220-230 would've been good"

Kane Williamson reflecting on the team’s performance at the @BasinReserve. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/iCsulzj6wF

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 24, 2020

Starting the day on 144 for four, India were all out for 191 in 81 overs in their second innings. This was a shade better after their dismal 165 in the first innings, which eventually proved to be decisive. Trent Boult (4/39 in 22 overs) and Tim Southee (5/61 in 21 overs), one of the finest but most under-rated new ball pairs in world cricket, showed that when it boils down to playing incisive seam and swing bowling, this batting line-up is still a work in progress. India's last defeat was against Australia at Perth during the 2018-19 series but the loss at the Basin Reserve would hurt them more because the visitors have not surrendered in such fashion of late.

वेलिंग्टन टेस्ट में Team India की करारी हार, New Zealand ने 10 विकेट से दी मात pic.twitter.com/UJ8eCxSXt8

— ABP News (@ABPNews) February 24, 2020

There was no resistance from a star-studded line-up and more than intent, the failure was due to poor technique on a track that had something on the third and fourth day as well. The second innings saw the pacers coming from round the wicket and it affected their mindset and once Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari stepped out on the fourth morning, defeat was written all over as both looked ill-equipped to handle such high quality seam bowling.

Blundell and Latham knock off the runs to give New Zealand their 💯th Test win! 🎉 👏 A great all-round performance by the hosts to take a 1-0 series lead 🏆 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Rab1LpS8P1

— ICC (@ICC) February 24, 2020

Rahane (29 off 75 balls) and Vihari (15 off 79 balls) are players who only play long-form cricket at the international level and both are known for their patience. Post Rahane's dismissal, Southee, who bowls lovely classical outswinger then bowled an off-cutter from the other end and before Vihari could comprehend, it came back sharply to peg the stumps back. Within first 20 minutes, the two seasoned practitioners of swing had knocked the stuffing out of India's resistance. Rishabh Pant (25 off 41 balls) batted only in the manner he can and played one breathtaking shot off Southee a slog sweep off a 130kmph-plus delivery to the deep mid-wicket boundary. Bending on one knee, he tried another audacious slog scoop but couldn't clear. All it took for Southee was 16 overs to end the innings and the match. New Zealand now have 120 points in the World Test championship and India stayed on top with 36 points. (With PTI Inputs)