125/10 (34.5)
CR : 3.59
280/10 (54.4)
CR : 5.12
England won by 323 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Harry Brook
123(115) & 55(61)
9:20 AM IST, 4:50 PM Local Time: There it is. New Zealand suffer a humiliating loss by 323 runs at the Basin Reserve. Who would have thought that they would lose a home Test series after the historic series win in India? But that’s cricket for you. England have been the better side in this series so far in all three departments and have taken an unassailable lead in the three-match series. This is the first Test series win for England in New Zealand since 2008.
Let’s recap this Test match. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first on a green deck. England got off to a shaky start as they were reduced to 43/4 in the first hour. Harry Brook and Ollie Pope (66) counter-attacked brilliantly and stitched a 174-run stand for the fifth wicket. Brook hit yet another ton overseas before falling on 123.
New Zealand stormed back into the contest after Brook’s dismissal. They blew away the lower-order to knock over England on 280. Nathan Smith picked up four wickets for the hosts whereas William O’Rourke and Matt Henry grabbed three and two scalps respectively.
In reply, New Zealand’s batters faltered. Only Kane Williamson (37) looked composed at the crease as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and got bundled out on 125 in just 34.5 overs, handing England a first-innings lead of 155. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse grabbed four wickets each for England, with the former picking up a hat-trick. It was the first at this venue.
Ben Duckett (92) and Jacob Bethell (96) batted brilliantly for England and misses out on their respective hundreds. Harry Brook continued his rich form with the bat and scored 55. Joe Root continued going strong from the other end and brought up his 36th Test ton on day three. He fell on 106 as England declared their innings on 427/6, with Ben Stokes remaining unbeaten on 49.
Chasing 583, New Zealand lost Devon Conway (0) and Kane Williamson (4) cheaply. Skipper Tom Latham looked good for his 24 before getting dismissed by Brydon Carse in his very first over. Rachin Ravindra also was sent packing cheaply on six by Carse as New Zealand were four down at lunch. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell showed some resistance.
The pair of Mitchell and Blundell put 47 for the sixth wicket before Atkinson removed the former on 32. Blundell played some magnificent strokes and brought up his fifty off 56 balls. Nathan Smith started aggressively and hit some lusty blows. Blundell too stepped on the accelerator and brought up an outstanding ton off just 96 balls.
Some brilliance in the field from Ben Duckett resulted in the departure of Blundell on 115. Ben Stokes brought himself into the attack and dismissed Matt Henry (4), Nathan Smith (42) and Tim Southee (8) in quick succession as New Zealand got knocked over on 259. Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir grabbed two scalps each as they completed a comprehensive win by 323 runs.
Let’s recap this Test match. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first on a green deck. England got off to a shaky start as they were reduced to 43/4 in the first hour. Harry Brook and Ollie Pope (66) counter-attacked brilliantly and stitched a 174-run stand for the fifth wicket. Brook hit yet another ton overseas before falling on 123.
New Zealand stormed back into the contest after Brook’s dismissal. They blew away the lower-order to knock over England on 280. Nathan Smith picked up four wickets for the hosts whereas William O’Rourke and Matt Henry grabbed three and two scalps respectively.
In reply, New Zealand’s batters faltered. Only Kane Williamson (37) looked composed at the crease as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and got bundled out on 125 in just 34.5 overs, handing England a first-innings lead of 155. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse grabbed four wickets each for England, with the former picking up a hat-trick. It was the first at this venue.
Ben Duckett (92) and Jacob Bethell (96) batted brilliantly for England and misses out on their respective hundreds. Harry Brook continued his rich form with the bat and scored 55. Joe Root continued going strong from the other end and brought up his 36th Test ton on day three. He fell on 106 as England declared their innings on 427/6, with Ben Stokes remaining unbeaten on 49.
Chasing 583, New Zealand lost Devon Conway (0) and Kane Williamson (4) cheaply. Skipper Tom Latham looked good for his 24 before getting dismissed by Brydon Carse in his very first over. Rachin Ravindra also was sent packing cheaply on six by Carse as New Zealand were four down at lunch. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell showed some resistance.
The pair of Mitchell and Blundell put 47 for the sixth wicket before Atkinson removed the former on 32. Blundell played some magnificent strokes and brought up his fifty off 56 balls. Nathan Smith started aggressively and hit some lusty blows. Blundell too stepped on the accelerator and brought up an outstanding ton off just 96 balls.
Some brilliance in the field from Ben Duckett resulted in the departure of Blundell on 115. Ben Stokes brought himself into the attack and dismissed Matt Henry (4), Nathan Smith (42) and Tim Southee (8) in quick succession as New Zealand got knocked over on 259. Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir grabbed two scalps each as they completed a comprehensive win by 323 runs.
Player of the Match: Harry Brook
Harry Brook (Player of the Match): “Definitely. Just the circumstances of the game and the position we were in, I feel it is my best hundred.
I think it depends on the surface as well. The bowlers were getting quite a lot from the surface and I wasn’t going to bog down defending. Best form of defence is attack.
It’s quite windy today. It was hard work for the bowlers to bowl in the wind and to get the win on the third day is great. It’s always amazing when you win the series. It’s nice to win the series.
(Plans for the next Test) Just watch the ball and play on its merit."
I think it depends on the surface as well. The bowlers were getting quite a lot from the surface and I wasn’t going to bog down defending. Best form of defence is attack.
It’s quite windy today. It was hard work for the bowlers to bowl in the wind and to get the win on the third day is great. It’s always amazing when you win the series. It’s nice to win the series.
(Plans for the next Test) Just watch the ball and play on its merit."
Tom Latham (New Zealand Captain): "Obviously, we are hurting. Disappointing to lose in that fashion. Harry played a fantastic innings. When you get all out for 120-odd, you are always falling behind. Really hurting with this.
(On Harry Brook's innings) I think you have to give credit where it’s due. He took the game away from us. Our bowlers were getting plenty from the surface and he played some amazing strokes.
The guys tried really hard. Not doubting their efforts. They came out and put us under pressure. We saw it with the partnership last evening. It needed three or four wickets early on to put them under pressure.
They have been able to put us under pressure. We haven’t been able to absorb that pressure. They are playing great cricket at the moment.
We will turn up with the aspirations of winning the Test match. It’s going to be a great occasion for Tim to play his last match. Hoping that the crowd turns up for it."
(On Harry Brook's innings) I think you have to give credit where it’s due. He took the game away from us. Our bowlers were getting plenty from the surface and he played some amazing strokes.
The guys tried really hard. Not doubting their efforts. They came out and put us under pressure. We saw it with the partnership last evening. It needed three or four wickets early on to put them under pressure.
They have been able to put us under pressure. We haven’t been able to absorb that pressure. They are playing great cricket at the moment.
We will turn up with the aspirations of winning the Test match. It’s going to be a great occasion for Tim to play his last match. Hoping that the crowd turns up for it."
Ben Stokes (England Captain): “Yeah, look amazing to be here and win the series. Looking back to the start of this game, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope were just amazing on day one. It was doing plenty and a lot of assistance for the bowlers. Bravery and to have that skill to play like that was just phenomenal. Brook and Pope played and gave us the advantage.
We don’t give instructions to guys to go out there and play. We back everyone’s ability. Brooky put the pressure back on the New Zealand bowlers. Hitting the same ball over mid on and over covers made it hard for their bowlers.
(On Jacob Bethell) Again, another young lad coming in and putting a special performance early in the career. We backed Beth’s ability to do something of match-defining. We see giving guts the opportunities to express themselves in tough conditions and he has certainly showed the world what he is capable of.
560 is a lot runs wherever you are. There is always pressure on New Zealand to chase it down on that wicket. The bowlers have been brilliant in both innings. Carse was great to pick those quick wickets. Bash also bowled beautifully in that wind. New Zealand came out hard but he showed great character to bowl with a smile on the face.
(On his spell) I think Woakes’ five-over spell into the wind was just incredible. I bowled into the wind and it was hard work. We have one more game left. Didn’t want to risk anyone. So, took the ball.”
We don’t give instructions to guys to go out there and play. We back everyone’s ability. Brooky put the pressure back on the New Zealand bowlers. Hitting the same ball over mid on and over covers made it hard for their bowlers.
(On Jacob Bethell) Again, another young lad coming in and putting a special performance early in the career. We backed Beth’s ability to do something of match-defining. We see giving guts the opportunities to express themselves in tough conditions and he has certainly showed the world what he is capable of.
560 is a lot runs wherever you are. There is always pressure on New Zealand to chase it down on that wicket. The bowlers have been brilliant in both innings. Carse was great to pick those quick wickets. Bash also bowled beautifully in that wind. New Zealand came out hard but he showed great character to bowl with a smile on the face.
(On his spell) I think Woakes’ five-over spell into the wind was just incredible. I bowled into the wind and it was hard work. We have one more game left. Didn’t want to risk anyone. So, took the ball.”
Biggest wins by runs for England against New
Zealand:
323 in Wellington, 2024 – THIS MATCH
267 in Mount Maunganui, 2023
247 in Leeds, 2013
230 at Lord’s, 1969
205 in Birmingham, 1958
323 in Wellington, 2024 – THIS MATCH
267 in Mount Maunganui, 2023
247 in Leeds, 2013
230 at Lord’s, 1969
205 in Birmingham, 1958
That brings an end to our coverage for this game. The third and final Test begins on Saturday (December 14) in Hamilton. Do join us for that. Also, keep joining us for more cricketing action all around the globe. For now, this is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of scorer Ghanendra Singh Thakur. Ta ta. Bye bye.