- PSL 2023 Scenario: How can Karachi and Quetta Qualify for Playoffs? - March 7, 2023
- Bismah Maroof – Pakistan Women’s Most Successful Captain - March 3, 2023
- PSL 8: Match Officials, Commentary Panel and Broadcast Territories announced - February 8, 2023
New Zealand recently won the World Test Championship Final. They defeated India by eight wickets at Southampton and earned the prestigious Test Mace.
The Kiwis have been waiting to win an ICC title for a long time. The last time they won an ICC event was way back in 2000 when they lifted the ICC Knockout Trophy. Interestingly that final was also against India. New Zealand defeated India by four wickets.
New Zealand’s Finals Woes
It has been a tough journey for Kiwis ever since then; they have played three finals: once in the Champions Trophy 2009 and twice in Cricket World Cup finals of 2015 and 2019 respectively. In the Champions Trophy final, Australia took the honors of lifting the trophy. Then again, in 2015, Australia outplayed New Zealand in the World Cup final.
The 2019 World Cup final was where New Zealand came very close to win the tournament. They were denied the title after the Super Over was tied and the boundary countback was decided to award the winner. New Zealand was easily behind the countback and thus was, as many would say, “robbed.”
But there couldn’t be a better wait for winning a title in the most prestigious format of the game. For two years in battling out the World Test Championship, they were the first team to qualify for the final.
The Battle for Test Mace
The final itself had its ups and downs, especially with the rain. Day 1 and 4 were completely wasted due to rain; however, other days were partially interrupted. It felt that the final will be drawn and the Test Mace will be shared. Day 6, the reserve day, had a different story. Thanks to India’s collapse, New Zealand got a target of 139 runs in about 50 overs. And how fitting it was that Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson were the ones to guide New Zealand home.
After years of waiting, New Zealand had finally tasted the victory of lifting an ICC trophy. The world appreciated their ways of playing cricket and labeled that “Good guys do win.”
Twitter reactions
Here are the Twitter reactions from all over the world congratulating the Black Caps for an outstanding victory.
Nevertheless, it was New Zealand’s time to celebrate. Their first ICC trophy after 21 years and they deserved it after trying for so long and for so many times. 23rd June 2021 will be remembered by every New Zealander for a long time.
