Tom Latham, who replaced Tim Southee as New Zealand’s Test captain earlier this month, created history in his first match as full-time captain of the New Zealand men’s cricket team. The left-handed batter became only the third Kiwi captain on Sunday (October 20) to win a Test match on Indian soil. He joined the elite list, which features legendary Graham Dowling and John Wright.
Dowling was the first New Zealand captain to win a Test match on Indian soil. He achieved the feat in 1969. During the match played in Nagpur from October 3 to 8, the Black Caps defeated the Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi-led Indian team by 167 runs.
New Zealand had to wait for 19 years to secure a second Test win on Indian soil. Playing under the leadership of John Wright, the Kiwis hammered Dilip Vengsarkar-led Team India by 136 runs during the match played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 24-29, 1988.
New Zealand’s third Test India win in India came after 36 long years. The Kiwis set the tone for a historic win by dismissing India for just 46 runs in the first inning on the second day of the rain-hit match. After dismissing India for its third lowest score in Tests, New Zealand posted 402 runs to take a massive lead of 356 runs.
India replied by posting 462 runs in the second innings and setting up a challenging total of 107 runs to win, but despite losing Latham early on the fifth day’s play, the Kiwis managed to seal the deal and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
For New Zealand, pacers Matt Henry and William O’Rourke picked up 8 (5+3) and 7 (4+3) wickets, respectively, whereas Southee and Ajaz Patel finished the match with two wickets each.
Rachin Ravindra scored a century in the first inning for the Kiwis, and he remained unbeaten on 39 runs from 46 balls in the second inning as well.
The left-handed batter, who also has an ODI century to his name in Bengaluru, added 75 runs for the third wicket with Will Young (48*) to take his side past the finish line without much fuss.
Comments
0 comment