New Zealand have broken a 31-year drought, defeating Pakistan 2-0 in their two-test series.
The denouement to the contest took place this afternoon in Hamilton with the Black Caps triumphing by 138 runs in a tribute to tenacity in fading light.
A riveting final session saw New Zealand reduce Pakistan from 158 for one at tea to dismiss them for 230.
Patience and a humming second new ball paid dividends for Kane Williamson's side as they showed fresh spirit after recent defeats in South Africa and India.
The last time the national side achieved the feat against Pakistan was on February 14, 1985 in Dunedin when Jeremy Coney and Ewen Chatfield produced a memorable 50-run stand to haul in a target of 278.
Even an Invercargill-bound train had an unscheduled 10-minute stop to capture history unfolding from across the tracks on that afternoon.
This time it was the turn of the Seddon Park loyalists as they ensconced themselves in beach chairs, huddled into blankets or poured a cuppa from the thermos as they warded off a dying westerly wind. The New Zealand bowling and fielding juggernaut finally rolled through a stubborn Pakistan top order and shredded the tail with Tom Latham taking a stunning short leg catch to remove Imran Khan.
Each of the specialist bowlers took wickets, just reward for a team showing. Mitchell Santner broke the ice of the Pakistan top order with the first two, that was bookended by Neil Wagner taking three for none from six balls to complete the feat.
It required diligence.
Pakistan had a wicket in reasonable condition to bat on. At stumps last night it had endured 239.1 overs compared to a possible 351 if there had been four full days of play. That was close to a day and a session behind the regular attrition.
Sami Aslam (91) and captain Azhar Ali (58) posted 131 from 60 overs, the longest opening partnership by a Pakistani opening pair in the fourth innings of a test.
The tourists' were set a target of 369 by Williamson to win the test and square the series - and retain their No 2 world ranking.
At tea, the visitors were 158 for one, leaving them a chase of 211 at 6.21 per over in the final session.
Azhar was bowled by Mitchell Santner for 58. The opener threw his bat at a cover drive but dragged the ball onto the stumps. He did the same with Babar Azam which began the post-tea crumble.
The visitors began the final day at one for none. Instead of attempting to be assertive, they defended until around half an hour before the interval.
You could detect a pressing of the accelerator at that point, and a change of mindset and a raft of attacking shots as if they were preparing to make their move and employ a one-day innings strategy.
However, only a minor run rate spike occurred in the approach to tea.
New Zealand experienced the full gamut of decision review system emotion across the day.
There was indecision, disappointment, dithering, awkwardness, intuition and genius in the way they applied their judgement.
Seamer Colin de Grandhomme had an appeal for lbw against Aslam rejected by umpire Simon Fry. New Zealand pondered before Williamson signaled for a referral.
It was rejected because he took too long to decide. To make matters worse, Sky ran the incident which showed Aslam would have been given out.
Azhar was part of one of test cricket's more bizarre DRS referrals.
A ball from Henry flew past him at chest height as he leaned back.
There was a stifled appeal, New Zealand fielders close to the wicket developed a dose of upturned hands and querulous faces until Williamson decided that he'd refer it.
The ball came nowhere near the bat.
Tim Southee had more luck to remove Younis Khan later.
Pakistan drop to No 4 in the rankings and New Zealand rise to No.6 with the result.
New Zealand's only other win in addition to 1985 across their 22 attempts came 1-0 on the subcontinent in 1969-70, courtesy of a five-wicket victory at Lahore.
