New Zealand are the world's number one ranked test cricket team for the first time.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Black Caps have claimed top spot after wrapping up an innings and 176-run win over Pakistan in the second test in Christchurch on Wednesday.
Kyle Jamieson took his second five-wicket haul of the match at Hagley Oval as the home side dismissed the tourists for 186 to sweep the series 2-0.
The young paceman took 6-48 to add to his 5-69 from the first innings, his match figures of 11-117 the sixth best in New Zealand test history, as the Black Caps sealed an eighth straight home test series triumph with victory inside four days.
The win also pushed the Black Caps firmly into contention for one of two berths in June's inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord's.
As much as Jamieson's fine bowling, the win was built on the magnificent 238 skipper Kane Williamson scored in New Zealand's only innings, which enabled the hosts to declare on 6-659.
"Even though the result on paper was very much in our favour, we know that when you are playing quality opposition, it's the small margins," Williamson, who was adjudged player-of-the-series, told Spark Sport.
"We won those small margins and had a bit of luck go our way as well."
Pakistan managed 297 in the first innings and only an extraordinary rearguard action was going to prevent a heavy defeat when they resumed on 8-1 after Jamieson had removed opener Shan Masood on Tuesday night.
Mohammad Abbas was caught behind off a Trent Boult delivery before Jamieson got into the swing again to send back Abid Ali and leave the tourists labouring to lunch at 3-69.
Jamieson secured his fourth five-wicket haul in six tests in the second session by dismissing Haris Sohail, Azhar Ali and stand-in skipper Mohammad Rizwan.
Boult dismissed Zafar Gohar, who made 37, to seal the victory for New Zealand who were unbeaten at home in 17 tests since being beaten by South Africa in 2016-17.
"I'm very disappointed that I didn't get a result for Pakistan as they put their faith in me," rued Rizwan, who led in the absence of their injured regular skipper Babar Azam.
"We tried our very best but we didn't do very well. As the captain, as a player, I take responsibility."
- Reuters, RNZ