New Zealand captain Kane Williamson led from the front with a double century to guide the hosts to a huge total in their first innings on Day 2 of the first Test against West Indies, at Seddon Park, in Hamilton, on Friday.
Babar Azam scored his 18th century as Pakistan trounced New Zealand by 102 runs in the fourth One-Day International at the National stadium in Karachi on Friday. His 107 off 117 balls fired Pakistan to 334 for 6. In reply, New Zealand were shot out for 232 all out, their lowest total of the series.
'There's no secret we're right in the hunt for the World Test Championship final following our two-nil win over India and having Trent and Kane fully fit and focussed for the upcoming series will be crucial.'
They will need to bat the entire final day on a deteriorating Bay Oval pitch in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday to stop the hosts taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
World number one India suffered a seven-wicket defeat in less than three days as New Zealand completed a 2-0 series sweep in the second Test, in Christchurch, on Monday. India were all out for 124 in their second innings to set New Zealand an easy target of 132 to win the match. The hosts cruised to victory, with openers Tom Latham (52) and Tom Blundell (55) both hitting half-centuries.
New Zealand will enter the World Cup feeling optimistic of finally winning it after four and half decades of trying.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Injuries to frontline fast bowlers have forced New Zealand to opt for fresh blood in their pace attack for the three-match ODI series against India starting February 5 in Hamilton. Kyle Jamieson could be in for a potential debut, while Scott Kuggeleijn and Hamish Bennett return to the squad after a long absence. Injury has meant the likes of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are unavailable for the series.
Bangladesh looked to be closing in on a shock victory over world Test champions New Zealand after Ebadot Hossain's three-wicket burst in the final session of the fourth day reduced the hosts to 147-5 in the opening Test.
A brilliant 49-ball 65 not out from New Zealand captain Tom Latham was in vain as Bangladesh clinched a thrilling four-run victory in the second Twenty20 international and took a 2-0 series lead, on Friday.
All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme struck a belligerent half-century to steady New Zealand in the second Test on Saturday after South Africa's seamers torched the home side's top order during a see-sawing Day 2 in Christchurch.
New Zealand's bowlers ripped through the West Indies tail after lunch on the fourth day of the first Test in Wellington on Monday to record an innings and 67-run victory and take a 1-0 lead in their two-match series.
Images from Day 1 of the 2nd Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede in Mumbai on Friday.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has withdrawn from the second Test against West Indies and returned home to be with his pregnant wife, coach Gary Stead said on Thursday.
Inspired by a magnificent, unbeaten century from rookie wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, South Africa pulled within six wickets of a series-levelling victory in the second Test against New Zealand after dominating day four in Christchurch on Monday.
Images from Day 3 of the 2nd Test between England and New Zealand played at Edgbaston on Saturday
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Test played between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Friday.
Images from Day 4 in the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Green Park in Kanpur, on Sunday.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has surpassed India's Virat Kohli in becoming the world No.1 T20I batter for the longest period of time after he maintained his top spot in the latest ICC T20 batting rankings.
Williamson breaks Fleming's record for most 50-plus Test scores.
An unbeaten Joe Root century and a bowling masterclass by James Anderson put England in complete control of the second Test on Saturday.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Green Park, Kanpur, on Saturday.
India retained their number one spot and captain Virat Kohli remained static at second in the ICC rankings. India have 116 rating points, six more than New Zealand with third-placed Australia accumulating 108 points.
Boult got through a nets session unscathed on a scorching hot day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday in a boost to Kane Williamson's team.
The play stopped for a brief moment at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, when a streaker came running to the pitch.
Pakistan's weakened pace attack in the absence of injured Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, didn't offer a challenge to Conway and Latham with the new ball as both batters took New Zealand to 41-0 by tea before adding 124 more runs in the final session.
Ishan Kishan has made a massive jump to enter the top 10 among T20 batters.
Queensland quick Michael Neser looks set to make his Test debut against New Zealand on Thursday with Australia considering an unconventional five-man attack for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The hosts, who can clinch the three-match series with a second successive victory, are wary of the surface at MCG where bowlers had to really toil for any success in recent times.
New Zealand built a lead of 238 with three second innings wickets remaining on Monday heading into a delicately poised final day of the second Test against England in Nottingham.
We had to fight really hard to reverse momentum, says Kane Williamson
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 3rd Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on Saturday
Images from Day 5 of the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Green Park in Kanpur, on Monday.
Josh Hazlewood took a five-wicket haul to skittle New Zealand for 162 on Day 1 of the second Test.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had made it clear to their Bangladesh counterparts that it will not host them on a neutral venue during the upcoming home series in January-February.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Friday.
Images from Day 3 in the second Test between India and New Zealand, in Mumbai on Sunday.
India's captain Virat Kohli, speaking after the 10-wicket defeat in the first Test, says he is not too concerned with his batsmen, as technically they were all sound and able to deal with New Zealand's attack.
The West Indies are currently lying seventh in the 10-team standings with just three points in their kitty and they can't afford any further loss to stay in the mix for a semifinal spot.
Veteran seamer Jhulan Goswami was named in the Indian women's team for the T20 tri-series involving Australia and England with Harmanpreet Kaur back as the leader.
Langer's side secured their spot in the last four with a 64-run win over hosts England at Lord's on Tuesday and return to the famous north London ground on Saturday to face neighbours New Zealand in their penultimate round-robin tie.
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