Wellington: New Zealand (NZ) beat England by just one run in a second-Test thriller today to draw the series despite having been forced to follow-on in Wellington.
With the win, NZ became just the third team (after England and India) to win a Test match after following on. It was only the fourth occasion a team has won a Test after being asked to follow on. England managed it twice, against Australia in 1894 and 1981, while India beat Australia in 2001.
NZ set England a target of 258 runs to win, but the visitors were all out for 256 in a dramatic collapse as the two-Test series finished at 1-1 draw.
Neil Wagner took the decisive wicket of James Anderson as NZ wicketkeeper Tom Blundell pulled off a diving catch to create history. 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 NZ during the final two gripping days. England were on course for victory after declaring their first innings on 435-8, then bowling out NZ for 209.
Former skipper Kane Williamson dragged NZ 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 this morning by losing four wickets for just 27 runs before Joe Root steadied the ship.
As England chased the target, Root’s 121-run partnership with Ben Stokes ended when England’s captain was caught at square leg. Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes kept England in the fight. After Foakes was caught by Wagner in the deep off Southee, it left last pair James Anderson and Jack Leach still needing seven runs for victory. But England fell short by a run.
BRIEF SCORE
England: 435-8 dec & 256 lost to New Zealand: 209 & 483.
This post was published on February 28, 2023 7:40 pm