Black Caps keep English at bay
As the heat went on in the first cricket test, there was only one side in it.
A fired-up Neil Wagner removed Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad in successive deliveries to seal a five-wicket haul, and a memorable innings and 65-run victory over England at a sweltering Bay Oval yesterday.
Wagner ended with 5-44 off 19.2 overs as the Black Caps skittled England for 197 in their second innings, with 21.4 overs left in the match at Mt Maunganui.
New Zealand completed victory without their two star men, with Trent Boult in doubt for Friday’s second test in Hamilton with sore ribs which require an MRI scan today, and captain Kane Williamson who trotted off late in the day with, presumably, his hip injury causing bother.
Still it won’t remove the gloss from a gritty performance by the New Zealand who comprehensively outplayed England.
Mitchell Santner (3-53 off 40 overs) set up victory with a triple strike with the ball fizzing and turning on Sunday evening. Then a wonderful, diving one-handed catch to remove Ollie Pope capped a huge all-round game for Santner in his first home test in two years.
From 55-3 overnight, a deficit of 207, England folded after captain Joe Root and star allrounder Ben Stokes departed at the hands of a fired up New Zealand attack who celebrated Bay Oval’s first test in style.
The country’s ninth test venue turned on a memorable occasion but it was slow going at times with the sluggish pitch not offering the pace and bounce both sides would have preferred.
Still, the Black Caps adapted to the conditions far better and were rewarded for their clinical approach.
The win ensures the world No 2 Black Caps can’t lose this series, and will stretch their unbeaten run to seven series.
Since they lost to South Africa in Wellington in March 2017, New Zealand have won seven and drawn three of their home tests.
New Zealand seized control on day four when BJ Watling (205) and Santner (126) demoralised their visitors with a record seventh wicket stand of 261. It led the Black Caps to a mammoth total of 615-9 declared, their highest against England.
For Root it was a horror show and his leadership will be under even more scrutiny as England still await their first test win in New Zealand since 2008.
Having won the toss on a docile pitch, England could post only 353 batting first as the skipper contributed 2 and 11 in the match. Root’s average as captain dropped below 40 as he perished in similar fashion in both innings, fending deliveries he needn’t have played.
Allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, who had a superb allround game, removed Root early on day five to bring Stokes to the crease.
Having broken New Zealand hearts with his innings of 84 in the World Cup final, and singlehandedly lifted England to a test victory over Australia at Headingley, Stokes was their big hope of saving a draw.
Stokes scored 28 in 103 minutes, but facing his 84th delivery he got too flamboyant to Tim Southee and chopped on.
Wagner then fired up to snare Joe Denly (35), Pope (6) and Jos Buttler (0) in a rush as England slumped to 138-8.
When Buttler left alone a Wagner inswinger with the second new ball, and was bowled, it was a matter of time.