It Was a Good WTC Final, But Where Is the Rain When We Need It?

The final of the WTC between India and New Zealand was a great match – even if the first day and large chunks of the other days were rained out. In the end, it was a deserved win for the Black Caps – even if one is a disappointed Indian supporter. Here’s what happened with the game:

Day one was rained out. Bad light stopped play on more than one day and there was more rain.

In spite of this, we had a result because the organisers had had the foresight to have a sixth spare day in the match.

India made a modest 217 in their first innings and did well to restrict New Zealand to 249 and a slender lead. However India were all out for just 170 in their second innings.

Kyle Jamieson, standing tall at 6’8” proved to be India’s nemesis.

He took five wickets in the first innings and then picked up the crucial wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in the second innings.

While the New Zealand bowlers were absolutely brilliant, many of the dismissals of Indian batsmen were soft dismissals.

Given the conditions, Indian bowlers actually acquitted themselves better than our much-vaunted batsmen. Mohammad Shami took four vital wickets in the first innings – even if he did do something rather peculiar with a towel.

When you really need it? On the last day of the match, it was bright sunshine.

Many Indians were praying for rain when it became clear that only that could save us from defeat.  

Ravichandran Ashwin was the only bowler to pick up wickets in the second New Zealand innings. There was some hope when he took the wickets of openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway.

Ultimately, New Zealand won the test without too much fuss. 

So did former players, clearly. India lost quite simply because the target set by the batsmen was not defendable – New Zealand got to 140/2 comfortably in the 46^th over.

The Kiwis played together as a unit and skipper Kane Williamson is a large part of the victory they claimed.

New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship and will forever have the distinction of being the first ever winners – like India has the distinction of being the first ever T20 Word Champs.