New Zealand saunters to eight-wicket win

“You usually don’t see in Australia, New Zealand or England a pitch that supports the seamers so much”.

A low-scoring match was wrapped up inside eight sessions after the first day’s washout, with Williamson’s second innings 61 – his 24th Test 50 – the top score of the match.

The result ended New Zealand’s Test drought, having drawn to South Africa in August before losing the second match against the Proteas, while they were swept 3-0 by India in September.

New Zealand defeated Pakistan by eight wickets on Sunday in the first Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

Debutant opener Reet Javal didn’t build on his promising 55, snicking Amir to first slip. We’ve got to enjoy the last three days which have been an incredibly good performance.

Six wickets fell in the final session of day three as Pakistan’s staunch second- innings rearguard faltered, leaving them listing at 129-7 off a painstaking 66 overs. “We were hoping for some movement off the surface and Pakistan showed a lot of resistance – especially early – and were very patient”.

“We’ve bowled sides out the last few years, but to be as disciplined and stick to plans for long periods of time, not one guy, not two guys, but the whole bowling unit was extremely pleasing”.

It took aggressive knocks in the 20s from de Grandhomme, Southee and Wagner to give the hosts a crucial 67-run lead.

De Grandhomme picked his first wicket, that of Azhar Ali, as the best of the six, and the Pakistani said conditions were ideal for the New Zealand medium pacer.

“It’s a great feeling”, Wagner said. De Grandhomme was on fire.

“Jeet came into worldwide cricket and looked like he had been there for years”.

Tim Southee, who bowled with nearly record-breaking economy in both innings, added another major breakthrough when he dismissed Pakistan’s 42-year old captain Misbah-ul-Haq for 13 in a final session in which six wickets fell.

“Sure you always want more, but I thought we scrapped it pretty well”.

Boult, however, took the catch to dismiss Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (13) then got the wickets of Azhar Ali (31), Sarfraz Ahmed (2) and Mohammad Amir (6), giving his side the chance to finish off the Test on Sunday and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.