Black Caps grind out series win
CHRISTCHURCH: Tailender Ish Sodhi hit a gutsy halfcentury as New Zealand fought a defiant rearguard action on a tense final day to hold on for a draw in the second test yesterday and secure a first series win over England since 1999.
Winner of the first test in Auckland by an innings and 49 runs, the Black Caps were 256 for eight when the umpires offered Sodhi the light, still 126 runs in arrears but with the allimportant draw secure.
England made the perfect start to the final day when Stuart Broad claimed wickets with the first two deliveries, but the tourist was unable to winkle out the final few batsmen as the fading light cast long shadows over Hagley Oval.
Opener Tom Latham scored a gritty 83, but it was spinner Sodhi’s 168ball 56 not out in partnerships with Colin de Grandhomme and then Neil Wagner that most frustrated England.
‘‘Series victories, especially 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.
England skipper Joe Root tried every bowling option and his team had its chances to take wickets throughout the day.
The draw brings an end to a tour Down Under that started in October and also included a 40 Ashes defeat, helping extend England’s run without a test win overseas to 13 matches.
New Zealand’s success in the series was built on its new ball attack and Tim Southee was named Man of the Match for his six for 62 in England’s first innings, while his partner, Trent Boult, won the series award for his 17 wickets over the two matches.
‘‘The bowling attack has been brilliant,’’ New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.
‘‘But those two guys in the last session, Sodhi and Neil Wagner — just a phenomenal effort. It was an amazing day of test cricket.’’
England had been in the driving seat in Christchurch after scoring 307 in their first innings and 352 for nine declared in the second after New Zealand’s first knock of 278.
‘‘We threw absolutely everything at New Zealand today. Very proud how we went about it as a group. Fair play to New Zealand, they hung on very well,’’ Root said.
The host resumed on 420 yesterday and seamer Broad removed Jeet Raval (17) with his loosener before coming up with a peach of a delivery to take the key wicket of Williamson for a golden duck when the New Zealand captain edged behind.
Ross Taylor (13) became spinner Jack Leach’s first test victim with a reverse sweep straight to Alastair Cook at short backward square, while Henry Nicholls also made 13 before he became paceman James Anderson’s 531st test victim, edging into the hands of Cook in the slip cordon.
BJ Watling scored a battling 19 before getting across the crease to flick Mark Wood to Anderson at backward square before Leach got his second wicket when Latham topedged a sweep.
Sodhi put on 47 runs for the seventh wicket with de Grandhomme and New Zealand looked in real trouble when the allrounder pulled a Wood bouncer to Leach at fine leg.
Wagner came out and joined Sodhi at the crease, however, and the pair batted through more than 31 overs until the paceman was dismissed after a 103ball knock for seven runs in what turned out to be the last action of the series. — Reuters
PLUNKET SHIELD
A BIG sixthwicket partnership has helped Otago take a lead into the second innings of its final Plunket Shield game of the season.
James Neesham and Michael Rippon combined to put on 121 as the Volts managed 264 in their first innings against Canterbury at the University Oval.
With Canterbury 11 for one at stumps, Otago holds a 28run lead heading into day three today.
It was the allrounders Neesham and Rippon that delivered, though, fighting back after another poor performance from the top order.
Neesham hit six fours and three sixes on the way to arunaball 79, while Rippon dug in to score a slowgoing 55.
It was what was needed, though, as they took the team from 131 for five to 252 for six.
Earlier, things had looked bleaker.
Beginning the day at five for one, Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom started well and got the side through to 52.
However, the partnership was broken when Andrew Ellis dismissed Broom lbw for 32.
Rutherford followed 10 overs later for 25, being caught hooking off the bowling of Andrew Hazeldine.
Anaru Kitchen was caught on 22 with the side on 117 and when Rob Nicol retired hurt for 12, the side was essentially five down.
Derek de Boorder then edged one to wicketkeeper Cameron Fletcher for 20, departing with Otago on just 131.
However, Neesham and Rippon stemmed the flow of wickets, then began to pile on the runs.
While the tail was unable to fire, it hung around long enough for Rippon to add 11 runs.
Canterbury’s wickets were evenly shared, with Ellis, Hazeldine, Will Williams and Theo van Workom all taking two each.
Otago had time for just 4.2 overs before stumps, but it was able to make them count.
Warren Barnes snaffled the wicket of Chad Bowes for three, breaching the opener’s defence with pace to take the bails off.
Michael Davison will resume on eight this morning, while Williams is yet to score.
In other games, Northern Districts is 331 for six in the second innings heading into the final day of its match against Central Districts.
That sees it lead by 366 after a lowscoring first innings.
In the other game, Auckland leads Wellington by 254 runs at 124 for five in its second innings at the end of day two.