Brits praise ‘brave’ Black Caps tail-enders

The ‘‘brave and resilient’’ Black Caps’ tail-enders who held their ground on the final day of the second test to secure an unlikely draw, and grab a series victory, have been hailed by English media.

The Times chief cricket correspondent Mike Atherton singled out bowlers Ish Sodhi, who battled for more than three hours, and Neil Wagner, who lasted more than half of that, as key contributors to the Black Caps getting through to stumps on Tuesday evening on 256-8 from 124.4 overs.

Although they only needed to draw the second test for their first series win over England since 1999, and their first at home since 1984, the Black Caps withstood a desperate assault after losing two wickets in the first two balls of the day.

‘‘These tailenders were game, brave and resilient, eating up 271 balls between them, taking frequent blows to the body, and repelling everything that England’s fast bowlers could throw at them,’’ Atherton wrote.

‘‘A Wagnerian innings ended a fine day’s cricket and a splendid test match, the only disappointment being that the schedule, so bloated with one-day matches and a T20 triseries, did not allow for another. A third match at Wellington’s Basin Reserve would have gone down a treat.’’

England, meanwhile, were reduced to ‘‘sending out the backroom staff and 12th men to act as ball boys to save precious minutes as time ran out.’’

‘‘With three balls remaining and three minutes left before the final hour was complete, [Joe] Root induced an edge from Wagner, who had the presence of mind to call for a review and run the clock down a little more.

‘‘By the time that the review was done, the light had deteriorated even more and the day was done.’’Mark Stoneman dropping Sodhi on zero was the turning point the Telegraph said.