WELLINGTON: 2nd Test: New Zealand rout Pakistan to seal top ranking

WELLINGTON: Kyle Jamieson took his second
five-wicket haul of the match as New Zealand beat Pakistan by an innings and
176 runs in the second Test on Wednesday to sweep the series 2-0 and top the
world rankings for the first time.
The young pacer took 6-48 to add to his 5-69 from the first innings as the
Black Caps dismissed the tourists for 186 to seal an eighth straight home Test
series triumph with victory inside four days at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.

The win also pushed the Black Caps firmly into contention for one of two berths
in June’s inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord’s.

As much as player-of-the-match Jamieson’s fine bowling, the win was built on
the magnificent 238 skipper Kane Williamson scored in New Zealand’s only
innings, which enabled the hosts to declare on 659-6.

“Even though the result on paper was very much in our favour, we know that
when you are playing quality opposition, it’s the small margins,”
Williamson, who was adjudged player-of-the-series, said after the win.

“We won those small margins and had a bit of luck go our way as
well.”

Pakistan managed 297 in the first innings and only an extraordinary rear-guard
action was going to prevent a heavy defeat when they resumed on 8-1 after
Jamieson had removed opener Shan Masood on Tuesday night.

Mohammad Abbas was caught behind off a Trent Boult delivery before Jamieson got
into the swing again to send back Abid Ali and leave the tourists labouring to
lunch at 69-3.

Jamieson secured his fourth
five-wicket haul in six Tests in the second session by dismissing Haris Sohail,
Azhar Ali and stand-in skipper Mohammad Rizwan.

Boult dismissed Zafar Gohar, who
made 37, to seal the victory for New Zealand who remain unbeaten at home since
being bested by South Africa in 2016-17.

“I’m very disappointed that I didn’t
get a result for Pakistan as they put their faith in me,” rued Rizwan, who
led in the absence of their injured regular skipper Babar Azam.

“We tried our very best but we
didn’t do very well. As the captain, as a player, I take responsibility.”