New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in an absolute thriller in their first Test at Wellington and with this win India have qualified for the World Test Championship final. India wil take on Australia in the marquee match. This will be the second year in a row that India will be in the WTC final.
New Zealand were chasing down a target of 285 runs on the final day the game as former captain Kane Williamson held his nerve to notch up an impressive ton during the second innings at the Hagley Oval. In the final over, with only eight runs required to secure the win, New Zealand managed to clinch the game on the last ball of the day, while still holding onto two wickets.
India lead 2-1 in the ongoing series against Australia
As the four-match Test series between India and Australia continues with the hosts currently leading 2-1, the outcome of the match in Ahmedabad will have no bearing on their prospects of featuring in the Test cycle final of 2021/23 this summer.
Australia had already made it to the final of the World Test Championship after their nine-wicket in in the Indore Test last week. This result had a negative impact on India’s chances, and hence, they had to depend on Sri Lanka for qualification to the final. India needed to win the ongoing series against Australia 4-0 or 3-1 in order to qualify, however, the current holders of the ICC Test mace have granted them a favour by producing an outcome that has contributed towards India’s qualifying for the final.
India have already sealed the Border-Gavaskar series and will now take on Australia once again at The Oval in London beginning on June 7. The winner will be hold the World Test Championship mace.
New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021 as Kane Williamson’s side chased down 139.
