We take a look at some of the amazing victories New Zealand has gained on the way to becoming the No. 1 Test side for the first time in history.
New Zealand is enjoying the golden age of cricketing history. Having reached the finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, they have now climbed to the top of the ICC MRF Tires test teams for the first time ever.
Their testing team has been a major force in recent years, earning prestigious advantages both abroad and at home. We take a look at some of our favorite winners in the regular rankings round, starting May 1, 2017.
Ajaz Patel played a crucial role in the close four-run victory over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi
Won four-run v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, November 2018
After folding for 153 in the first innings, New Zealand fought back to bowl out Pakistan for 227 before setting them a moderately challenging target of 175, thanks in large part to two fifties from Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling.
Pakistan’s run started very hard when they were reduced to 48/3 by New Zealand spinners, but Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq withstood the proceedings with an 82-run stand. However, things took a turn for the worse when Neil Wagner Shafiq got behind him for 45 in the middle of an intense and long spell in the Gulf heat. After Babar Azam ran out for 13, Ajaz Patel ran through the lowest order. He rejected Azhar for playing the game, getting five because New Zealand were bidding for a narrow win.
Innings-and-49-run win v England, Auckland, March 2018
New Zealand would have loved to host a day / night Test on their home ground, and delivered an interesting show. Trent Boult and Tim Southee took advantage of the route offered by the pink ball to wrap the visitors out for 58. The new ball pair remained unchanged for the 20.4-pence that lasted England’s innings, with Boult taking six and Southee taking the other four.
Then, as if batting under completely different conditions, New Zealand scored 427/8 before they conceded. Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls received hundreds for leading the efforts with the bat. In a bowling effort, New Zealand then outscored England for 320 in the second innings to secure a big win.
New Zealand mattresses were unique in Colombo
Innings-and-65-run win v Sri Lanka, Colombo, August 2019
After Trent Boult and Tim Southee used the slow swing to take seven wickets between them and take the guests out for 244, Tom Latham and BJ Watling scored to put New Zealand in a very controlling position. Overall, the team’s handling of spinning was commendable.
They announced at 431/6 and the archers then joined forces to do some light work on the hosts, tying them for 122 in another impressive win for the Kiwis in foreign positions.
Won seven wickets v India, Christchurch, February-March 2020
In the weeks leading up to the series, India was considered by some to be their favorite. There was good reasoning for this as India had applied to win a historic series in another Southern Hemisphere country – Australia – just the year before, and they were ranked 1st on the ICC MRF Tires Test Levels. New Zealand, on the other hand, had suffered a horrific 3-0 loss in Australia just weeks ago.
But they were back at their best in no time. They gave India a tough 10-wicket victory in the first game of the series and found out more of the same in Christchurch. After Kyle Jamieson, playing his maiden series, claimed 5/45 to help bowl India out for 242, the guests themselves fell for 235. But Boult and Southee seven wickets between them to run through the Indian order in their second innings, bowling them out for 124. New Zealand had little trouble running the target down as openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell half -cheudan. They took the series 2-0.
New Zealand took the series 2-1 after winning the third Test with 123 runs
123 runs won v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, December 2018
New Zealand suffered the concussion with innings and 16 runs in Dubai’s second Test after their impressive four-run win in Abu Dhabi in the Opening Test. Back at the same spot for the third Test, the Kiwis posted a much better performance. After making 274 they surrendered to a 74-run lead to Pakistan.
However, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls hit centuries in the second innings in New Zealand before conceding at 353/7, setting Pakistan a target of 280 with more than two sessions remaining. The draw seemed to be the most likely outcome at that stage, but Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel and William Somerville took three wickie apiece to bring a bowl to Pakistan for 156. The win also marked the first New Zealand series against Pakistan away from home in 45 years!