New Zealand are a strong team at home as they showed against New Zealand, registering a victory against Pakistan by eight wickets. With the ball doing most of the talking in the first Test, New Zealand pacers turned up the heat, which helped them take 1-0 lead in the best of two-match Test series.
After a brilliant bowling effort from the New Zealand bowlers in Pakistan second innings, the home team had to score 105 runs for a win. Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner took three wickets each in the second innings.
With the pitch having something for the new-ball bowlers, New Zealand did lose Tom Latham early, but a solid partnership of Jeet Raval and skipper Kane Williamson, comprising 85 runs, played an important role in the victory.
Despite Mohammad Amir and the rest of the Pakistan pacers bending their back, the New Zealand batsmen looked in good form to see off the new ball, and cruise towards the victory. One needs to applaud Raval, who is playing his first Test match. The debutant followed his first innings' of 55 with a solid 36 not out in the second.
However, it was the other debutant Colin de Grandhomme, who won the man of the match award after his brilliant performance in the first innings, picking up six wickets. This win would be welcome for the Blacks Caps after their loss to India 3-0 in the last Test series.
"Naturally, it's tough coming off the back of a few losses, but it's nice to be back at home. The boys kept it up and put some of those feelings of defeat behind us to play a very good test match." AP quoted Williamson as saying.
