ICC Test Rankings: Pakistan slip to 4th after losing to New Zealand

Pakistan has slipped from second to the fourth position in the ICC Test Team Rankings after its 2-0 loss to New Zealand in their two-match series which culminated with a 138-run verdict in Hamilton on Tuesday. Pakistan, which went into the series with 109 points in the team rankings led by India (115), is now with 102 points and tied with South Africa but ahead on decimal points. England and Australia are both on 105 points with England ahead on decimal points. Pakistan was top-ranked as recently as last month before India overtook it in the first week of October during a home series against New Zealand which it won 3-0. India is now comfortably perched at the top as it has a 10-point lead over the rest of the pack. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton

New Zealand, which won the opening Test in Christchurch last week by eight wickets, has moved up one place to the sixth position. The home side has gained five points to reach 96 points and is ahead of Sri Lanka on decimal points. This means that the top seven sides in the rankings table are within 20 points of each other and six of them are within a range of 10 points.

Earlier, New Zealand pulled off a sensational 138-run win against Pakistan in the second Test on the final day at Seddon Park, Hamilton. With this win, New Zealand have won the two-Test series 2-0. Pakistan began the final session placed comfortably on 158 for 1, with an outside chance to perhaps even win the match. But New Zealand bowlers came back strongly in the final session of the day to rattle Pakistan. The tourists collapsed to 230 all out eventually. Mitchell Santner struck in the first over after tea, removing Babar Azam for 16. That got Younis Khan out to the middle. Pakistan had signalled that they will go for the win. However, Sami Aslam played one shot too many and holed out at mid-off for 91.