The big story: Kiwis put nightmarish India tour behind

A highly motivated New Zealand thumped Pakistan by eight wickets in the first Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. On day four, Pakistan surrendered meekly with the bat and only Sohail Khan’s fighting knock lower down the order gave the visitors a semblance of a chance in the Test.

The Kiwis were asked to chase 105 on a wicket that had flattened out a bit and skipper Kane Williamson (61) led from the front with a fluent half-century to shut the door on Pakistan. Debutant Jeet Raval’s second impressive knock of the game ensured that New Zealand got home with ease, erasing some of the pain that was inflicted by Ravichandran Ashwin and Co. in India last month. The second Test will be played in Hamilton from November 25th.

Other top stories

  1. India reached a position of command at the end of day three of the second Test against England in Visakhapatam. After bowling England out for 255, India were once again steered by skipper Virat Kohli after pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad inflicted some early damage. India were 98/3 with a lead of 298 at the close of play. 
  2. West Indies laboured after being 220/2 in the 45th over chasing Zimbabwe’s 257 and Donald Tiripano did what few bowlers have managed to do in the last over – concede just three runs as the teams played out only the 34th tie in One-Day International history.         
  3. Despite giving England an outside chance with his display with the ball in the second innings, pacer Stuart Broad is a doubtful starter for the third India-England Test after aggravating a foot injury on day two. Broad had temporarily walked off the field during the day’s play.
  4. A decision will be made on whether Andre Russell breached the World Anti-Doping Agency code by being negligent about his whereabouts will be announced by an independent tribunal, reportedESPNcricinfo. The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission stated that Russell had failed to file his whereabouts on three separate occasions in 2015, which amounts to a failed dope test.
  5. In the Bangladesh Premier League, Khulna Titans climbed to the top of the table, joining Rangpur Riders and Dhaka Dynamites with eight points after a nine-run win. The Titans survived a late Dhaka assault, led by Sri Lankan Seekkuge Prassana to bring up the win.