New Zealand
got off to a rough start in the World Test Championship, being held in Sri
Lanka before suffering a 3-0 drubbing against their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia.
However, the Black Caps have been one of the most consistent outfits in world
cricket in recent years, and testament to their quality and sporting spirit was
the way they bounced back to become the first team to qualify for the final.

Having lost
the last two World Cup finals – to Australia and England – the Kiwis will aim
to substantiate their rise as one of cricket’s powerhouses by defeating India at
the Rose Bowl in Southampton and lift their first major ICC title since the
Champions Trophy in 2000.

Also Read | World Test Championship: India’s road to the final

Here we
take a look at how New Zealand booked their place in the final, which will be played
from June 18-22:

Sri Lanka 1-1 New Zealand, August 2019

New Zealand
started their World Test Championship journey with a six-wicket defeat at Galle
with skipper Kane Williamson registering a duck. However, the Kiwis bounced
back, with Tom Latham and BJ Watling scoring centuries to help level the series
at 1-1.

Australia 3-0 New Zealand, December-January
2019-2020

Coming into
the series, expectations were high for the Black Caps to record their first
Test series win in Australia since 1985. However, their hopes of making the
final were seriously dented after a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash, losing by
margins of 296, 247 and 279 runs respectively.

Australia
were a force to reckon in the series, with Marnus Labuschagne in the form of
his life – averaging 91.50 in the series and scoring two centuries, including a
double ton. David Warner and Travis Head each notched centuries as well, while
their bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon all averaged
below 20.

Also Read | World Test Championship final to be held amid heavy COVID protocols

New Zealand 2-0 India, February 2020

The Kiwis bounced
back from that defeat to hand out a 2-0 defeat to India. Virat Kohli’s men came
into the series having won all of their seven matches so far, whitewashing West
Indies, Bangladesh and South Africa in the process.

However, the
visitors suffered a humbling 10-wicket loss in the opening clash at Wellington.
Debutant Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee took four wickets each in the first
innings before the veteran notched a fifer in the second as India were bundled out
for under 200 in both innings.  

Jamieson
followed up his impressive debut with a fifer in the first innings of the second
Test. Leading by eight runs, the Indian batting collapsed in the second innings,
setting up a target of 132 runs for the home side. A superb century stand by
the opening pair Tom Latham and Tom Blundell helped seal the win.

Also Read | How much prize money will the World Test Championship winner get?

New Zealand 2-0 West Indies, December 2020

With
COVID-19 affecting the cricket calendar, ICC announced that the WTC finalists
will be determined through percentage points instead of total points. At this
stage, New Zealand (50) were fourth on percentage points, behind England
(60.83), India (75) and Australia (82.22).

However,
the Black Caps continued their home dominance against West Indies after the
restart following the coronavirus-induced break. Skipper Kane Williamson scored
251 in the first match as the home side amassed a mammoth 519/7, going on to
win the match by 134 runs.  

Williamson
sat out the second match to attend the birth of his daughter, but his absence
was not felt on the pitch as Henry Nicholls scored 174 in New Zealand’s 460-run
first innings total, with Jamieson and Southee taking five wickets each to set up
a 12-run win.  

Also Read | 3-week break for Indian squad after WTC to address mental fatigue

New Zealand 2-0 Pakistan, December-January
2020-2021

New Zealand
registered their third straight 2-0 home series win with a whitewash of
Pakistan. Back in the squad, Williamson led the scoring with 129 and 238 in the
first and second Test respectively.

However, Jamieson
was named man-of-the-match in the second Test, because of his consecutive
five-wicket hauls (5/69, 6/48) in the two innings to finish with 11 wickets in
the match, helping the Kiwis secure a 176-run win.

Following the
series win, New Zealand’s points tally stood at 420, with their points percentage
rising to 70%. This ensured their qualification to the final, with India being
confirmed as the other finalists following their 3-1 series win over England in
March 2021.