Kyle Jamieson took 11 wickets in the match, Kane Williamson not only hit 238 and shared a record 369-run stand with Henry Nicholls but he also took a wicket as New Zealand decimated Pakistan by an innings and 176 runs to win the second Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch and win the series 2-0. Kane Williamson took the series trophy for the first time as the No.1 ranked Test side from Brendon McCullum and this result has meant New Zealand are firmly in contention for a spot in the ICC World Test Championship final. For Pakistan, it was another tough session as they failed in all departments. They dropped crucial catches, their batting floundered under the discipline of Kyle Jamieson and their bowlers simply buckled under pressure.
Pakistan were already facing an uphill task when Shan Masood had fallen in the previous day to Kyle Jamieson for his fourth duck in eight innings. Trent Boult started the day well when he got rid of Mohammad Abbas. Abid Ali and Azhar Ali stonewalled for 14 overs but Pakistan did not make any progress. Jamieson ended Abid Ali’s resistance when he fell for 26. From that point on, no Pakistan batsmen managed to get going.
Jamieson and Trent Boult were all over the Pakistan batting in the second session, with Jamieson picking up another five wicket haul, including the big wicket of Azhar Ali for 37. Zafar Gohar hung on and delayed the inevitable but in the end, the New Zealand bowling in their home conditions proved to be too much as they wrapped up their sixth consecutive win.
Mohammad Rizwan, the captain of the Pakistan team, admitted that the team failed in all fronts namely the batting, bowling and fielding. The result of the Hagley Oval Test could see increased criticism of Misbah-ul-Haq, the head coach with a former Pakistan pacer lambasting the former Pakistan cricket captain for the drop in standards.
On the other hand, Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper labelled Kyle Jamieson as a special cricketer. “Even though the result on paper was in our favour, but Pakistan is a quality side. We worked hard and got lucky with a few moments. Kyle is a special cricketer. He's gone a long way to moving this team forward and complementing the bowling attack,” Kyle Jamieson said. After winning the Man of the Match award, Kyle Jamieson said he was happy being part of this bowling attack. “As a bowling unit, we were clinical. From my point of view, just sit back and learn. We have got the four-pronged attack. I am the fourth prong. Try and observe what these guys have done for the years,” Jamieson said.
New Zealand’s Test summer has ended and they will now host Australia for five Twenty20 Internationals in February.