Ruthless India clinch Test series

Kiwis thrashed by an innings to give hosts their third biggest win.

NAGPUR: India rode on great bowling to thrash New Zealand by an innings and 198 runs in and final Test and claim the series 1-0.

New Zealand started the day needing 349 runs to avoid an innings defeat after conceding a huge 373-run lead to India who made 566 for eight in their first innings, built around a 191-run knock by Rahul Dravid.

New Zealand suffered their second batting collapse in the match after resuming the day on 24 for one. Suresh Ojha removed Brendon McCullum, who finished as the highest run-getter for New Zealand with a tally of 370 from the three Tests, as well as Martin Guptill. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina joined in the action as Ishant Sharma returned in the post-lunch session to pick up two wickets in two balls and put an end to New Zealand’s misery.

The visitors crumbled to hand India their third biggest win.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2010.