New Zealand have claimed their first Test win over India since 2002 as Brendon McCullum’s side secured a thrilling 40-run victory in the opening Test in Auckland on Sunday.
After setting India 407 for the victory, fast bowlers Neil Wagner picked four wickets and fellow quicks Trent Boult and Tim Southee claimed three each to bowl the visitors out for 366.
The victory was set up by their mammoth first-innings score of 503 with captain McCullum’s 224 the pinnacle of their total, but it was the bowlers who conjured up some magic on day four to pull off the win.
After a disastrous day three that saw them bowled out for 105 to leave India with the 400-plus target, the hosts found themselves on the back foot for most of the day as Shikhar Dhawan scored a century and Virat Kohli chipped in with a half-ton, but the pacers kept chipping away.
With Murali Vijay removed the evening before, Cheteshwar Pujara (23) added only one run to his overnight score before he became Southee’s second victim.
However, the game turned in India’s favour after that as Dhawan and Kohli shared a 126-run third-wicket partnership, but Wagner got the breakthrough after lunch as he had Kohli caught behind for 67.
Dhawan kept fighting and he eventually reached his ton from 169 balls, but again Wagner gave the Kiwis the initiative as BJ Watling took his fourth catch behind the stumps to remove the opener for 115.
Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane both departed before they reached the 20s and although Mahendra Singh Dhoni threatened to spoil the party he was the penultimate man out for 39, bowled by the impressive Wagner.
Ishant Sharma was the final man out as he was caught behind off Bolt’s bowling to give wicketkeeper Watling his sixth catch of the match and hand the Kiwis a brilliant win.
New Zealand’s last win over India was back in December 2002 when they won by four wickets in Hamilton. They will now be eyeing a series win with the second and final Test taking place in Wellington from February 14.
