SOUTHAMPTON, June 23

After missing out in the 50-over World Cup final twice in a row, New Zealand finally claimed the title of world champions — that too in the oldest format of the game.

New Zealand beat India by eight wickets in the World Test Championship final after captain KaneWilliamson and veteran Ross Taylor led the chase with brilliant innings.

Earlier, their all-seam attack skittled out India for 170. Rishabh Pant made an entertaining 41 but India still fell well short of the 200-mark in their second innings.

Kyle Jamieson had been the wrecker-in-chief in India's first innings and the towering seamer returned to haunt them again on the sixth morning.

The 6' 8" bowler dismissed Virat Kohli (13) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15) in successive overs to jolt India.

The bowler was denied a third wicket when Tim Southee dropped Pant's edge at second slip when the batsman was on five.

The left-hander decided to counter-attack, stepping out repeatedly against Neil Wagner injecting excitement into the contest with his devil-may-care batting.

Pant attempted the scoop shot, played the reverse pull and nearly ran himself out in his eventful knock which came to an end after an inspired bowling change by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

Trent Boult (3/39) dismissed Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin in the same over before Southee (4/48) polished off the tail dismissing Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in a space of five balls. — Reuters

Fans ejected for New Zealand abuse

Two spectators were ejected from the ground on the fifth day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand on Tuesday after shouting abuse at the New Zealanders. "We received reports of abuse directed at the New Zealand players," a spokesman for the International Cricket Council said. "Our security team was able to identify the culprits and they were ejected from the ground." A report on a news website said a complaint had been made by a New Zealand follower watching the match on television. He said the abuse had included racist comments directed at batsman Ross Taylor (in pic), whose mother comes from Samoa. Taylor, 37, is the first person to play 100 matches in all three formats of international cricket.

Watling returns to despite injury

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling returned to the field despite dislocating his right ring finger during the morning session of the World Test Championship final against India, displaying the grit and courage he is known for in his farewell game. Watling had fittingly led New Zealand team into the ground on the reserve day of the title clash. The 35-year-old was also congratulated on the field by India skipper Virat Kohli. "BJ Watling dislocated his right ring finger in the first session and has received medical treatment during the lunch break before returning to the field," read an update from New Zealand Cricket.