India were in danger of suffering their first home test loss to New Zealand since 1988, despite Sarfaraz Khan's 150 and Rishabh Pant's 99, when the tourists bowled them out for 462 on the fourth day of their rain-interrupted series opener on Saturday.
Harry Brook continued his remarkable form in New Zealand with a second century of the series to drive England to 280 before the tourists reduced the Black Caps to 86 for 5 at the close of play on Friday, the first day of the second Test.
New Zealand had to play out of their skin but a top order meltdown has left them on the brink of defeat
Brydon Carse took six for 42 before England comfortably chased down their 104-run victory target in the first Test against New Zealand
Victory left New Zealand on 10 points and in pole position to bag the last semi-final spot and join India, South Africa and Australia. Pakistan will now need to beat England by a massive margin to leapfrog New Zealand on net run rate.
Images from the ICC Men's ODI World Cup match between New Zealand and the Netherlands in Hyderabad on Monday.
New Zealand booked their place in the final of the Champions Trophy against India after a 50-run victory over South Africa.
Ross Taylor claimed the last Bangladesh wicket in his final act in Test cricket to seal New Zealand's series-levelling victory by an innings and 117 runs in the second and final match in Christchurch on Tuesday.
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said Chennai is a familiar venue for his team.
The tourists will be without batsman Kane Williamson in Bengaluru after the former skipper opted out of the opener due to a groin injury, while paceman Ben Sears was ruled out of the series with a knee injury and replaced by Jacob Duffy.
India's Shreyas Iyer smashed a century on his test debut but Tim Southee's lion-hearted bowling and New Zealand's top order left the opening test between the teams evenly poised on Friday.
Images from Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, at The Hampshire Bowl, in Southampton, on Saturday.
Pakistan scored 182 runs and Tom Latham's side fell well short of their target despite a hat-trick from Matt Henry, with Haris Rauf claiming four wickets for 18 runs as New Zealand were dismissed for 94, with more than four overs remaining.
While this may not secure qualification outright, it would certainly keep them in contention. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead drew inspiration from the inaugural WTC cycle in 2019-21, when New Zealand won six consecutive matches enroute to securing the title.
A spectacular seven-wicket haul by Mitchell Santner helped New Zealand dismiss India for 156 before the tourists reached 198-5 at stumps on day two of the second test in Pune on Friday to tighten their grip on the three-match series.
None of New Zealand's batters were able to build on their starts
Daryl Mitchell's 129 and a 98 from skipper Tom Latham helped the Black Caps to an imposing 336-5 but Fakhar's fluent 180 from 144 balls and half centuries from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got Pakistan across the line with 10 balls to spare.
Latham, De Grandhomme lead NZ to series sweep of India
Woeful India dismissed for 46 as New Zealand pacers run riot
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Kanpur, on Friday.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will take over the captain's role for the first time in his career as regular skipper Kane Williamson continues to recover from a knee injury, and his deputy Tom Latham has been rested for the series.
Images from the second One-Day International between India and New Zealand, at Raipur.
The inscription on the bat read: 'Happy Birthday, Virat. You are a symbol of dedication and a living proof that age is just a number.'
IMAGES from the ICC Champions Trophy match played between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Rawalpindi on Monday.
Kyle Jamieson wrecked India with the ball and opener Devon Conway compiled a half-century to put New Zealand in a commanding position in the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in Southampton on Sunday.
Tim Southee, once half of the most feared new-ball partnership in the game, brought down the curtain on a glittering 16-year Test career after New Zealand crushed England for a consolation win in Hamilton on Tuesday.
'That's a standard we want to keep going with for the rest of tournament.'
Images from Day 5 of the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Green Park in Kanpur, on Monday.
The Australians still managed to score at a fair pace and will resume on Monday on 77-4 with Mitch Marsh, who was 27 not out, and Travis Head, unbeaten on 17, looking to cut deeper into their 279-run victory target.
New Zealand face England-beaters Afghanistan aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact
Captain Virat Kohli admitted that India were at least 30 runs short while lauding the application shown by New Zealand's batsmen, especially Tom Latham, in the first One-Day International at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Sunday.
Successful in keeping opponents and vitriol at bay so far, India will have to rise above traditional bugbear New Zealand and a rigmarole of emotions surrounding stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to reclaim the Champions Trophy after 12 years in Dubai on Sunday.
Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Rachin Ravindra and Hamish Rutherford were released from the initial 20 player squad.
Disappointed by the performance of India's seam trio, some Indian cricket fans made Bhuvi a trending topic, discussing just how much and why Team India is missing his services in this all-important WTC final.
South Africa skittled New Zealand's tail to dismiss their hosts for 211 and take a shock first-innings lead of 31 runs on day two of the second Test at Seddon Park on Wednesday.
One of the biggest turning points of the July 14 final was the overthrow on the fourth ball of the final over bowled by Trent Boult.
Hosts New Zealand were in trouble as Sri Lanka reduced the Kiwis to 165 for five on day two of the first Test.
Images from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played between India and New Zealand, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Debutant Rachin Ravindra and number 11 batsman Ajaz Patel survived intense pressure to help New Zealand draw the opening Test against India in Kanpur on Monday.
New Zealand have now secured a first Test series win in England since 1999 and only their third overall in the country.
