2. New Zealand’s wagging tail
In the second innings of the World Test Championship Final, Indian bowlers reduced New Zealand to 162/6 in the 83 overs, with 55 runs behind India’s 217 of the first innings. The situation had started to look grim for the Kiwis. Then, walked in, pacer Kyle Jamieson, who decided to keep the scoreboard ticking with quick runs.
He smoked a length-ball delivery from Mohammed Shami over long on for the first maximum in this World Test Championship final. Jamieson added 21 runs to the New Zealand total, in just 16 balls at a strike rate of 131.25. After the fall of Jamieson’s wicket, came in Tim Southee, who became a headache for the Indian bowlers.
Southee lasted 46 balls at the crease but added 30 runs to New Zealand’s total which helped them to go past India’s first innings score of 217 and take a valuable lead of 32 runs. Had Southee and Jamieson got out early, New Zealand would have found it difficult to take a first-innings lead in this test. The contribution from New Zealand’s lower order shifted the momentum to New Zealand’s favor.
