In a dramatic sequence of events, India today qualified for the final of the World Test Championship to be held in June in Oval, thanks to New Zealand.

India will play the WTC final against Australia at The Oval from June 7. ICC top rank test team Australia was the first team to secure place in the WTC final. The race was between India and Sri Lanka for the second spot. India had to either win the last test match against Australia or Sri Lanka had to win both the tests against New Zealand to qualify for the finals. With the Ahmedabad Test now heading towards a draw, all eyes were on the New Zealand Sri Lanka in Christchurch.

New Zealand had to score 284 runs to win the test match on the last day. After rain wiped out an entire session or 37 overs on the final day, it appeared as if this game was also heading towards a draw, but a heroic century from former captain Kane Williamson gave New Zealand a dramatic win on the last ball. New Zealand chased down 257 off 53 overs.

Once play resumed after rain, Sri Lanka dismissed Daryl Mitchell at 81. Sri Lanka struck at regular intervals, pushing the match to the final over. With New Zealand needing 8 to win and 3 wickets left, the set Kane Williamson was key. But there was more twist in the tale. After Matt Henry was run out, Kane Williamson struck a boundary to make it 1 needed off 2 balls.

Watch the last-ball thriller.

Asitha Fernando then bowled a bouncer to make it 1-1 on the last ball. Fernando bowled another bouncer which Williamson failed to connect. However, he and Neil Wager went for the run even as wicket keeper Niroshan Dickwella threw the ball. The bowler hit the stumps on the non-striker end where Williamson made a desperate dive to complete the run. The decision went to the third umpire, after which the TV replay showed that Williamson had just made his crease in time before the ball hit the stumps. Miles away in India, people erupted with joy knowing that Team India will qualify for the World Test Championship.Watch the moment that secured India a place in the WTC final below:

India lost the inaugural World Test Championship final to New Zealand in 2021, as Kane Williamson’s side chased down a target of 139 in Southampton.