Test win in New Zealand after 33 years

The six-wicket haul by Harbhajan Singh guided India to post a comfortable win over the Kiwis in the first Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Saturday. This is the first Test triumph for India on New Zealand soil in 33 years.

India outplayed the Kiwis by 10 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. First it was an outstanding innings by the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar (160), who scored his 43rd Test ton, and then off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed six wickets to finish the match in India’s favour.

Chasing a target of just 39 run in the second innings to win the match, India achieved it in only 5.2 overs without losing a single wicket. Gautam Gambhir (30) and Rahul Dravid (8) wrapped up the innings.

Harbhajan Singh took 6 for 63 from 28 overs and it was his 23rd five wicket haul in Tests. He proved to be the real spoiler for the Black Caps. The entire Kiwi team collapsed scoring only 279 in their second innings. Brendon McCullum, top scored with 84 while Daniel Flynn made 67 as the Kiwis managed to avoid embarrassment of an innings defeat.

India last won a series in New Zealand way back in 1968 under the captaincy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. After winning the five-match one-day series, India was eying to break this 33-year ling jinx for not winning a five-day game in Kiwi backyard.

This is India's first Test win in New Zealand in 33 years; they last won win at Auckland in January 1976 when the three match-series was drawn 1-1.

The second Test begins in Napier on Thursday (March 26).

Brief scores

New Zealand 1st innings: 279 all out India 1st innings: 520 all out New Zealand 2nd innings: 279 all out India 2nd innings: 39 for no loss (Gautam Gambhir 30 not out, Rahul Darvid 8 not out.