New Zealand trounce India to win inaugural World Test Championship

New Zealand have defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural World Test Championship final at Southampton. 

Set a victory target of just 139 in 53 overs, New Zealand finished on 140-2 with more than seven overs left after the match was extended into the reserve sixth day, Wednesday, after two days' play were completely washed out.

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reduced New Zealand to 44-2 after removing both openers.

But New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (52 not out) and Ross Taylor (47 not out), the team's two most-experienced batsmen, shared an unbroken stand of 96 to seal victory.

Kiwi pacers flatten India's batting order

The real damage was done by New Zealand's all-pace attack, with India dismissed for just 170 in their second innings earlier on Wednesday despite a rare sunny day in this match at the Hampshire Bowl providing the best batting conditions of the  entire game.

Tim Southee took 4-48 in 19 overs, with Rishabh Pant (41) the only India batsman to manage a score above 30 in the innings. 

This final marked the culmination of a two-year cycle of series to determine Test cricket's first official world champions.