New Zealand defy India’s spirited fightback

A dramatic fourth day sees India lose by 40 runs at Eden Park

First Test – New Zealand snare 40-run win over India

Neil Wagner captured four wickets (4-62) at crucial times to wrest control away from India in a match that see-sawed throughout. New Zealand held off a counter-attacking India to win the first test at Eden Park by 40 runs on a riveting fourth day which saw the visitors losing their last five wickets for 98 runs, chasing 407.

India resumed their second innings at 87/1 and were on course with Shikhar Dhawan (115 – his first overseas ton) and Virat Kohli (67) sharing 126 runs for the third wicket but pacer Neil Wagner took four crucial wickets to derail India’s chase. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja belted 54 in under seven overs, but India kept losing wickets – some to controversial decisions – at regular intervals. Brendon McCullum got his third Man of the Match award in Tests for his first innings 224, which helped the hosts to a 301-run first-innings lead.

India: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (Captain & Wicket Keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma

New Zealand: Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (Captain), Corey Anderson, BJ Watling (Wicket Keeper), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult