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Rival captains Kane Williamson and Mohammad Rizwan paid wealthy tribute to New Zealand fast Neil Wagner who bowled with two damaged toes to assist the hosts win the tense opening take a look at in opposition to Pakistan on Wednesday.
Wagner performed the final three days of the match with the damaged toes after being hit by a Shaheen Afridi yorker in New Zealand’s first innings on the Bay Oval.
The left-arm fast performed by means of ache and went on to assert two second innings wickets, together with of centurion Fawad Alam, as New Zealand prevailed with 4.3 overs remaining within the take a look at.
“I just told Kane Williamson he’s mad,” Rizwan informed reporters after their 101-run defeat at Mount Maunganui.
“I know New Zealand are very proud of him, he bowled so well with that attitude and aggression.”
Home captain Williamson additionally praised the “special effort from” group man Wagner.
“He was going off and having injections and numbing his foot and we were trying to use him when the injection was taking effect – it was kind of unique for all of us,” Williamson mentioned.
“His appetite and motivation to be out there and try and make a difference for the team is huge and we haven’t seen it any bigger than the effort he’s put in across this test match.”
“It was a very, very special effort from Wags, one that the team appreciated. We needed him out there and he delivered.”
The win fetched New Zealand 60 factors and they’re third within the World Test Championship (WTC) standings — behind Australia (76.6) and India (72.2) — having earned 66.7% factors from their accomplished matches.
They will probably be searching for a second successive victory within the remaining take a look at at Christchurch from Jan. 3 to spice up their possibilities of reaching the WTC remaining at Lord’s in June.
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