England vs New Zealand 2nd Test Archives

New Zealand beat England by one run in second-Test thriller

WELLINGTON: New Zealand beat England by just one run in the second-Test thriller on Tuesday to draw the series despite having been forced to follow on in Wellington.

New Zealand set England a target of 258 runs to win, but the visitors were all out for 256 in dramatic scenes as the two-Test series finished 1-1.

Neil Wagner took the decisive wicket of James Anderson as New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell pulled off a diving catch to make history.

“Amazing achievement, hats off to everyone, everyone kept fighting.” said Wagner, who finished with 4-62.

“That’s the characteristics of this team, they played well, credit where it’s due, but we found a way of contributing.”

Blundell was delighted to hang on to the tumbling catch.

“Saw it well and luckily it went in clean. Pretty happy,” said the wicketkeeper.

It was only the fourth occasion a team has won a Test after being asked to follow on, and the first time for New Zealand.

England managed it twice, against Australia in 1894 and 1981, while India beat Australia in 2001.

It was the first time England have lost a Test after forcing their opponents to follow on.

A topsy-turvy Test match swung back to New Zealand during the final two gripping days.

England were on course for victory after declaring their first innings on 435-8, then bowling out New Zealand for 209.

Former skipper Kane Williamson dragged New Zealand back into the Test with a superb 132 in their second innings 483 on Monday, leaving England 258 to win.

Having resumed at 48-1, England wobbled Tuesday morning by losing four wickets for just 27 runs before Joe Root steadied the ship by steering his team to 168-5 at lunch.

As England chipped away at their target, Root’s partnership with Ben Stokes ended on 121 when England’s captain was caught at square leg.

The pressure on England intensified dramatically after Root went for 95 with England still 57 runs short.

Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes kept England in the fight with a cavalier 35, surviving a dropped catch by Michael Bracewell before clubbing three fours to the boundary.

After Foakes caught by Wagner in the deep off Southee, it left last pair James Anderson and Jack Leach still needing seven runs for victory.

Anderson clubbed a four to get within two runs before Wagner and Blundell combined to land the knockout punch.

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Williamson becomes New Zealand’s highest Test run-scorer

WELLINGTON: Kane Williamson called it “special” after surpassing Ross Taylor on Monday to become New Zealand’s highest Test run-scorer.

Williamson’s century steered New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington.

The 32-year-old former captain earned two standing ovations at the Basin Reserve during a superb innings which brought up his 26th Test century.

He raised his bat fleetingly after reaching 29 not out early on Monday to pass Taylor’s record of 7,683 runs.

Williamson left the field to more applause when he fell for 132 to part-time seam bowler Harry Brook.

Williamson was typically modest about his place in the history books.

“It’s not something I have thought a whole lot about but it’s an honour if you look at the names on that list,” he said.

“I admired a lot of them growing up, then played alongside some of them, but it’s special to be in that company.”

Stephen Fleming, also a former Black Caps captain, sits third on 7,172 runs.

Williamson reached the milestone in his 92nd Test and 161st innings, considerably quicker than Taylor’s 112 Tests and 196 visits to the crease.

Now-retired Taylor was quick to compliment Williamson.

“Congratulations, Kane,” Taylor posted on Twitter. “This achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication to Test cricket, of which I was privy to for a number of years.”

Williamson, a right-handed batsman, started the two-match England series needing only 39 runs to clinch the record.

But he totalled only 10 runs through his first three innings, forming part of a New Zealand top order that struggled against the English seam attack.

He sits 35th on the all-time Test leaderboard, which is topped by Indian great Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921 runs.

READ: New Zealand set England 258 to win second Test after Williamson century

New Zealand set England 258 to win second Test after Williamson century

WELLINGTON: Record-breaker Kane Williamson stroked a superb century Monday to steer New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington.

Former captain Williamson hit 132 and Tom Blundell was last man out for 90 as the hosts fought back after being asked to follow on at the Basin Reserve.

England were 48-1 in their second innings at stumps after opener Zak Crawley, on 24, was bowled by a delivery that nipped back from New Zealand skipper Tim Southee.

Ben Duckett was unbeaten on 23 and nightwatchman Ollie Robinson on one, leaving England needing 210 more runs on Tuesday’s final day for a 2-0 series sweep.

The tourists won the first Test by 267 runs.

“We’re excited about chasing that (target) down tomorrow,” said England spinner Jack Leach, who took 5-157.

“We know how we want to go about it and it’s a case of us sticking to that process. We’re confident.”

New Zealand need nine wickets to pull off only the fourth victory by a side following on in the history of Test cricket and square the two-match series.

“It would be pretty special,” Williamson said of New Zealand’s historic bid.

“It’s pretty exciting going into day five and we want to make sure our bowling is on. 0There’s all to play for.”

‘Immaculate’

The hosts resumed their second innings on Monday at 202-3, still trailing by 24, but Williamson led the charge with his 26th Test century.

It fell to England’s new batting star and part-time seam bowler Harry Brook to claim Williamson’s prized wicket.

After grinding down England’s bowlers, Williamson was finally caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off a fine edge after a sixth-wicket partnership of 158 with Blundell.

Williamson trudged off to hearty applause from the Wellington crowd after dragging New Zealand back into the match.

It was his second standing ovation of the day, having eclipsed Ross Taylor in the morning session to become New Zealand’s most prolific Test batsman with 7,787 runs.

His partnership with Blundell helped New Zealand fight back after England declared their first innings at 435-8 then scuttled New Zealand for 209, before inviting the hosts to bat again.

New Zealand can join an elite club if they win — only England, twice, and India have won a Test after following on.

Williamson, who survived a close shout for a stumping when on 45, handed his side a fighting chance after frustrating England alongside Blundell, with support from Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell before lunch.

Blundell hit Stuart Broad to the boundary as New Zealand passed 400, then Williamson also smacked England’s seamer for four to bring up his hundred — his first since scoring two tons against Pakistan in December 2022.

New Zealand folded quickly once Williamson departed and he was full of praise for Brook’s bowling.

“He didn’t miss his length, he was immaculate. He’s a special player,” Williamson said.

With the former captain gone, Michael Bracewell went in sloppy fashion, run out for six as he inexplicably failed to ground his bat.

Foakes whipped off the bails from Ben Stokes’ laser throw in the deep when Bracewell should have been home comfortably.

New Zealand lost their last four wickets for just five runs, Blundell last out when he edged Leach to Joe Root at slip going for a big hit.

Brook, Root centuries put England in charge of New Zealand Test

WELLINGTON: Red-hot Harry Brook made a majestic 184 not out to put England firmly in control against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday in the second Test.

Joe Root was unbeaten on a classy 101 as the tourists rampaged their way to 315-3 before rain ended the opening day of the series decider early.

Brook’s breathtaking display at the Basin Reserve made him the first player to score 800 or more runs in his first nine Test innings.

The 24-year-old came to the crease with England wobbling at 21-3 inside the first seven overs.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl on a green wicket.

That decision paid instant reward as New Zealand quickly dismissed England’s top order of Zak Crawley (two), Ben Duckett (nine) and Ollie Pope (10).

Matt Henry and skipper Tim Southee did the early damage for the hosts under expectedly blue skies.

Henry, back after missing the first Test with the birth of his child, forced Crawley into being caught behind as the opener’s sticky run continued.

All-rounder Michael Bracewell then made two superb catches in the slips to first dismiss Pope, then Duckett.

The dismissal of Duckett following Bracewell’s diving catch gave Southee a 700th international wicket in all formats, becoming the first New Zealander to reach the milestone.

However, it then became the Brook show as he took his Test average to just over 100 in only his sixth match.

Brook was player of the match in the first Test with back-to-back half centuries to help England to a 267-run win.

He continued the remarkable start to his England Test career with a magnificent unbeaten knock laced with 24 fours and give sixes. His 184 came off 169 balls.

Alongside former skipper Root, he helped steer England out of trouble to 101-3 at lunch.

There was no let-up in the afternoon as Brook added to his three previous centuries against Pakistan in December.

Root was more steady but no less decisive, slapping his 29th Test century but first in eight Tests.

England, who have won 10 of their last 11 Tests under the attacking cricket of coach Brendon McCullum, stuck with the same team that convincingly won the opening game.

New Zealand made two changes with Will Young and Henry replacing Scott Kuggeleijn and Blair Tickner.

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