India savaged over 'pathetic' act in World Test final 'disgrace'
Indian cricket fans are fuming over a diabolical batting display on the final day of the World Test Championship final that allowed New Zealand to win the showpiece match.
The Black Caps finally shed their bridesmaid tag by claiming the inaugural World Test Championship title with an eight-wicket victory in a thrilling final on Wednesday.
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Beaten in the finals of the last two 50-over World Cups, Kane Williamson's team became Test cricket's first official world champions after prevailing in a match plagued by bad weather before a superb climax at the Hampshire Bowl on its reserve sixth day.
"Certainly it's a very special feeling. After a couple of close ones (in ICC finals), nice to get one under the belt," Williamson said at the presentation ceremony after the six-day contest.
"I've been part of (New Zealand cricket) for a short while, but it's a very special feeling, the first time in our history we've come away with a world title."
All three results looked possible when India resumed the final day on 2-64 in their second innings with captain Virat Kohli and the Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease.
But a diabolical collapse saw India bowled out for 170, leaving New Zealand just 139 to win from 53 overs.
Kyle Jamieson, destroyer-in-chief in India's first innings, returned to haunt them again on the sixth morning.
The 2.03m-tall bowler dismissed Kohli and Pujara in his successive overs but was denied a third wicket when Tim Southee dropped Rishabh Pant at second slip when he was on five.
It threatened to be a costly reprieve as Pant counter-attacked with a typically aggressive knock of 41.
It took an inspired bowling change by Williamson to end the mayhem with Trent Boult (3-39) removing Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin in the same over.
Southee (4-48) polished off the tail as India, who had managed 217 in the first innings, folded for 170 in the second to leave fans fuming.
Shambolic batting display by India today despite a fairly sunny day. NZ’s 32 runs first innings lead which didn’t look too significant, has come back to bite badly
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 23, 2021
With Ashwin’s wicket too in the same over, the death knell has been sounded for India. It’s been an abject batting performance frankly
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 23, 2021
Not the most sensible 20 minutes of batting by India. They were a good hour from making it very difficult for NZ. Crumbled against fine bowling after a high-pressure spell by Wagner and Jamieson, but the batting was inane.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) June 23, 2021
India losing what a disgrace
— Kieran (@ScuderiaFxrrari) June 23, 2021
what a disgrace performance from team india after so much of investment they fell apart once again ....Remove shashtri from head coach and make rohit captain in all format...and also that’s not a starting 11 in english conditions #INDvNZ #WTCFinal
— shaw_pesci (@shaw70445341) June 23, 2021
At this point BCCI is keeping Virat as their captain just for the brand and face of the team. Absolutely unaware and diabolical decisions taken by him in major stages of every world tournament. A nation with a population smaller than every city in India has done.
— Levi (@primegareth) June 23, 2021
#WTCFinal 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 congrats to the black caps NZ
What an absolute atrocious and diabolical performance by India @imVkohli time for you to retire….not once have you performed when India needed it. Been years since even a century was scored …… poor club cricket— Mariana (@Mariana54818699) June 23, 2021
This is the worst team India selection u have to admire it too....
The worst batting performance only 20 overs they needed to bat more but nobody applied themself pathetic for indian fans to see india team again failing in final hurdle @imVkohli @RaviShastriOfc @BCCI @SGanguly99— navdeep soni (@navdeep_soni) June 23, 2021
Virat Kohli blames poor batting for India loss
Chasing 139 to win, New Zealand did not find it easy as Ashwin dismissed both openers to inject fresh excitement into the contest.
More drama followed as Williamson, who made 52 not out, was adjudged lbw to Ashwin early in his innings, but the Kiwi skipper immediately reviewed the decision and got it overturned.
He got another life when Jasprit Bumrah dropped a skier as New Zealand homed on on victory.
Taylor, whose 47 not out included the winning boundary, was dropped by Pujara in the slips when the batsman was on 26.
The final marked the culmination of a two-year cycle of the WTC, which was launched in 2019 to create Test cricket's pinnacle.
New Zealand's victory was also a fitting farewell for their wicketkeeper BJ Watling - who retired after this match.
Kohli blamed his team's batting on the final morning for their defeat.
"The Kiwi bowlers executed their plans to perfection and kept putting us under pressure and did not allow scoring opportunities.
"I think in the end, we were 30-40 runs short of putting them under serious pressure in the last innings."
Jamieson, who claimed his fifth five-wicket haul in his eighth Test, was adjudged player of the match.
New Zealand took home the ICC Test championship mace and pocketed $US1.6 million ($A2.1 million).
with AAP
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