India secured their first series victory in New Zealand breaking the 41-year gap since 1968 on Tuesday despite rain cheating them of a huge victory in the third Test here in Wellington.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the mood in the dressing room after the long awaited win was “fantastic”. “We have achieved something that is big, but the tough part is to maintain it,” he said afterwards. “I think it will be tougher for the next guys who come here.”
As number three ranked team in the world, the ever-improving India were always expected to overcome an inconsistent New Zealand, ranked eighth.
India’s star-laden batting lineup and more than competent bowling attack proved too much for New Zealand, with a modest bowling attack and brittle and inexperienced batting line up.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said India deserved to be bracketed with Australia and South Africa at the peak of world cricket. “They’re obviously starting to prove themselves away from home,” he said. “I think you can throw Australia, South Africa and India in there as the three best teams in the world, it’s hard to distinguish between the three at the moment.”
The skipper said his side’s patchy performances continued to frustrate their attempts to rise higher up the world Test rankings. “We’ve been inconsistent but we’ve only lost one Test match. I think people have to remember that,” he said.
But New Zealand had the weather to thank for not losing a second Test in the series on Tuesday, with the home side poised on the brink of a humbling defeat at 281 for eight when rain led to the game being washed out early in the afternoon.
With only two second innings wickets remaining, New Zealand remained 336 runs adrift of the massive target of 617 set by India when they declared at 434 for seven early on Monday.
By then the series win was a formality, with India needing only a draw after coming to Wellington with a 1-0 lead after thrashing the hosts by 10 wickets in the first Test in Hamilton.
The highest successful Test fourth innings run chase was 418 scored by the West Indies against Australia in 2003.
India’s charge towards victory on Tuesday was led by offspinner Harbhajan Singh, who took the prize wicket of New Zealand century maker Ross Taylor on his way to a haul of 4-59.
Sachin Tendulkar is known as the “Little Master” for his batting, but he showed he also knows a few things about bowling by taking 2-45 with his tricky leg spinners.
Taylor’s dismissal for 107 signalled a mini-collapse that saw New Zealand slump from 226/4 to 253/7 in the space of eight overs before lunch.
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