WAGNER PILOTS NEW ZEALAND TO STUNNING WIN

New Zealand wrapped up an impressive innings and 65-run victory over England shortly after tea on the final day of the first Test at the Bay Oval yesterday with Neil Wagner running through the tourists’ lower order.

Wagner took three wickets in 17 balls for one run as England collapsed from 132 for five to 138 for eight before tea, then broke a 59-run ninthwicket partnership between Jofra Archer and Sam Curran after they had threatened to thwart the hosts.

The left armer, who finished with figures of five for 44 from 19.2 overs, trapped Stuart Broad in front for a first ball duck to end England’s resistance at 197.

Wicket-keeper B. J. Watling was named Man-of-the-match after his maiden double century of 205 and hefty partnerships with Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner helped the hosts to a first innings of 615 for nine declared.

After Santner had taken three quick England wickets late on Sunday, the tourists resumed on 55 for three needing to bat the entire fifth day to stop New Zealand from taking a 1-0 lead into the second match of the twotest series in Hamilton.

Neil Wagner celebrates a dismissal

And while they showed signs they might be able to see the day out, tentative shot- and poor decisionmaking led to their downfall.

Captain Joe Root, Joe Denly, Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope were all dismissed playing at balls they did not need to, while Archer fell into a trap set by Wagner when he was well set to bat out the final hour.

Stokes’s dismissal was particularly important with the aggressive allrounder looking settled before he played on, letting out a loud yell of exasperation after chasing a wide, shortish ball from Tim Southee.