Wellington
New Zealand completed an innings victory over the West Indies in Wellington to seal a 2-0 series sweep and go top of the ICC’s world Test rankings for the first time, level on points with Australia; the Blacks Caps are also up to third in the World Test Championship
New Zealand achieved their first objective of the domestic summer when they swept the West Indies in the two-Test series to join Australia atop world cricket’s Test rankings. After winning the first Test in Hamilton by an innings and 134 runs, New Zealand won the second at the Basin Reserve by an innings and 12 runs inside the first hour of the fourth morning on Monday.
Wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva (57) provided some late resistance, achieving a first half-century on his debut Test, before the tourists were all out for 317, their highest innings total of the series. The series win lifted New Zealand level with Australia on 116 points in first place on the ICC world Test standings, the first time in their history they have achieved that ranking. New Zealand also moved past England into third place in the World Test Championship standings, a more pressing objective as they attempt to claim a place in next year’s final at Lord’s. A clean sweep of Pakistan in an impending two-Test series will give New Zealand a chance of competing with Australia and India for a place in the June final. Joshua da Silva offered some resistance for West Indies with a half-century on his Test debut
Joshua da Silva offered some resistance for West Indies with a half-century on his Test debut New Zealand are now unbeaten in their last 15 Test matches at home, giving them one of the most formidable home advantages in world cricket. ‘I think looking at the World Test Championship, it’s nice to get the full points from this series,’ New Zealand captain Tom Latham said. Latham took over the captaincy for the second Test from Kane Williamson, whose wife is expecting their first child, and New Zealand showed depth in its ability to win in Williamson’s absence. ‘We talk about focusing on each game at a time and we managed to do that over the last two matches. As far as the world rankings go, it is nice to go there but that’s a by-product of the effort these guys have put in time and time again over the last couple of years. ‘We’ve got another Test series starting in a week or twos time and so the focus now will turn to that.’—Agencies
