Sodhi stands firm, NZ hold on to win series

CHRISTCHURCH: Tail-ender Ish Sodhi hit a gutsy half-century as New Zealand fought a defiant rearguard action on a tense final day to hold on for a draw in the second Test on Tuesday and secure a first series win over England since 1999. Winners of the first Test in Auckland by an innings and 49 runs, New Zealand were 256 for eight when the umpires offered Sodhi the light, still 126 runs in arrears but with the all-important draw secure.

England made the perfect start to the final day when Stuart Broad claimed wickets with the first two deliveries but the tourists were unable to winkle out the final few batsmen as fading light cast long shadows.

Opener Tom Latham scored a gritty 83 but it was spinner Sodhi’s 168-ball 56 not out in partnerships with Colin de Grandhomme and then Neil Wagner that most frustrated England. “Series victories, espe- cially over England, don’t come around that often and just to be part of this, especially when I was quite disappointed with my performance with the ball, was massive for me,” Sodhi said.

“The whole time I was thinking about batting as straight as I could, they started bowling bumpers around the wicket and I found them quite hard to pick up so there were some tough periods there.”

England skipper Joe Root tried every bowling option available to him.

ANDERSON’S RECORD

England’s James Anderson became the most over-worked fast bowler in Test cricket when he bowled his 30020th delivery.

He reached the milestone bowling in last delivery of his 17th over on the final day.

With this, he leapfrogged Courtney Walsh. Anderson is now behind only Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Muttiah Muralitharan.

England 307 & 352/9d vs New Zealand 278 & 256/8 (T Latham 83, I Sodhi 56*)