Kane Williamson's burgeoning 215-run stand with Henry Nicholls, who was batting on 89, helped the hosts finish Day 2 on a strong 286-3 in reply to Pakistan's first innings total of 297.
South Africa will need their bowlers to step up to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Ashwin was asked about having a deep extra cover, the senior spinner said, "If it was up to me, would have straightaway done that."
A brilliant performance by New Zealand's seamers and a composed run chase by Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor ensured the Black Caps made history by beating India to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.
Captain Kane Williamson returns to the side after missing the second Test
New Zealand moved to temper expectations ahead of the Cricket World Cup after their six-wicket victory over India in the warm-up match on Saturday, with conditions likely to be more conducive to batting during the tournament.
The 29-year-old left-hander was on 117 with Kyle Jamieson on one at stumps at the Basin Reserve.
Bangladesh's first win in any format of the game in New Zealand gave them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series
Fast bowler Tim Southee will lead the Black Caps in the five matches against England starting in Christchurch on November 1.
Two more failures in two home games could effectively mean end of the road for Ajinkya Rahane, who is leading India in the first Test in Kanpur, starting on Thursday.
The fourth one-day international between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was abandoned after just nine overs of the hosts' innings after rain intervened for the final time at Saxton Oval in Nelson on Saturday.
Henry Nicholls also stroked his way to 107 - his fifth Test century - as the hosts declared at 432 for six for a 221-run first innings lead after tea on the fourth day.
Ross Taylor became New Zealand's highest scorer in One-Day Internationals on Wednesday as he helped his side secure an 88-run victory over Bangladesh in Dunedin in their final official ODI before the World Cup.
New Zealand held their nerve under the floodlights to beat Bangladesh by two wickets in a dramatic low-scoring Cricket World Cup match at The Oval on Wednesday.
Since the start of the year he has scored 593 runs and only been dismissed in single figures once in his 11 ODI innings -- a run of form he credits to the work he has put in off the field.
Taylor does not rule out playing in 2023 World Cup
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said that they will be primarily focussed on how to 'best combat' his Indian counterpart in the limited overs series, starting in Napier on Wednesday.
Skipper Kane Williamson smashed his fourth Test double-hundred while Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell notched up centuries to fuel New Zealand's bid for a 2-0 series sweep
For Kohli, a trophy-less cabinet doesn't do justice to the champion performer that he has been for a decade.
The squad will then be trimmed to 15 for the ICC World Test Championship final against India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton starting on June 18, as per ICC regulations.
Images from the first One-Day International between New Zealand and India in Hamilton, on Wednesday.
India vice-captain Rohit Sharma says the team's recent winning streak in cricket's shortest format, is a good sign heading into the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand survived Ravindra Jadeja's late onslaught to stun India by 18 runs in a low-scoring thriller on Wednesday and reach the ICC World Cup final for the second time in a row.
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.
To India's comfort, New Zealand's tournament has gone on a downward spiral during their last three games but their initial good work helped them beat Pakistan to a last four spot.
Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India were found to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
Semi-finalists six times. Runner-up in 2015. Rajneesh Gupta highlights important numbers for the New Zealand team from World Cups.
'It's a very special feeling, the first time in our history we've come away with a World title,' said New Zealand skipper Kane Wiilliamson after victory over India in the WTC final on Wednesday.
The immensely talented Shreyas Iyer enhanced his reputation of a finisher with a scintillating 29-ball-58, as India crushed New Zealand by six wickets in a high-scoring first T20 International in Auckland on Friday. Iyer built on KL Rahul's (56 off 27 balls) blazing start and Virat Kohli's useful 45 off 32 balls as India made short work of a 204-run target, knocking it off with an over to spare.
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.
The auction ahead of the seventh edition of Indian Premier League involved a lot of profligacy. Check out the smart picks.
What went wrong for India in the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand?
New Zealand made as many as six changes for the ongoing second Test, some forced and some rotated ahead of the World Test Championship final against India in Southampton from June 18.
The Indian-born 29-year-old, New Zealand's top domestic wicket-taker in the past three seasons, replaces all-rounder Mitchell Santner who is still recovering from knee surgery.
Ross Taylor and BJ Watling shared an unbeaten sixth-wicket stand of 220 as New Zealand went to tea in complete command on 543 for five and a lead of 379 on day three of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Saturday.
Bumrah did not manage to take a wicket on the second day of the first Test
Rediff.com takes a look at the players who were surprisingly left unsold at the IPL auction on Wednesday. They will again go under the hammer on Thursday. Let's hope they have better luck then.
New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham, who scored an unbeaten century in the team's surprise victory India in the first One-Day International, prefers playing the sweep shot against spinners rather than hitting them down the ground.
Statistical highlights of Sunday's first cricket one-dayer between India and New Zealand in Napier.
Conway, who is among the three uncapped players in the 20-man squad, feels the camp back home in Lincoln ahead of the tour was ideal. New Zealand play with the Kookaburra at home.
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