New Zealand Claim World No. 1 Test Rankings For First Time In Their History After Thrashing Pakistan

For the first time in their Test history, New Zealand moved to the top of the ICC Test Rankings on Wednesday after thrashing Pakistan by an innings and 76 runs in the second and final Test of the series. The hosts had won the first Test by 101 runs. The Blacks Caps now sit at the pinnacle of ICC Test Rankings with 118 points, two points more than second-placed Australia.

The latest victory has also kept them in a position to qualify for the finals of the ICC World Test Championship. Pakistan had their back against the wall when day four of the Test started. At the start, they were on 8 for 1, still trailing New Zealand’s first-innings total by 354 runs. And the visitors disastrous show in New Zealand continued on Wednesday too as they were all out for a paltry total of 186.

The moment @BLACKCAPS became No.1 ?#NZvPAK | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/i1kpzTRhxq

— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2021

Once again, the tourists collapsed to Kyle Jamieson, giving him a maiden ten-for in Tests. The New Zealand pacer eventually finished the innings with 6 wickets and the match with 11 wickets. For Pakistan, Azhar Ali and Zafar Gohar top-scored, scoring 37 each. Earlier in the game, New Zealand had piled up a mammoth total of 659 for 6 (declared) in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 297.

New Zealand on top of rankings:

Thanks to the latest win, New Zealand have leapfrogged their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia to take the number one Test rank for the very first time. Australia, India, England and South Africa complete the top five. As far as Pakistan are concerned, they are languishing at the seventh spot with 82 points.

?? NEW ZEALAND ARE NO.1️⃣?

Victory over Pakistan has sent Kane Williamson's side to the ? of the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Team Rankings!

They have achieved the feat for the first time in rankings history ? pic.twitter.com/8lKm6HebtO

— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2021

Meanwhile, both India and Australia have an opportunity to topple New Zealand if they manage to get the desired results in the ongoing four-match series between themselves. Australia just need to win the series to replace New Zealand as the top-ranked Test side. On the other hand, India need to win both the remaining Tests and finish the series with a margin of 3-1 in their favour to reclaim the top spot.

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