Stand-in captain Tom Latham hit the winning runs as New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket win in the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Sunday. Latham hit a four off Mark Wood in the 11th over of New Zealand’s fourth innings, thus helping his team chase down a measly target of 38 after England were all out for 122.
New Zealand have thus won the two-match series 1-0 in what has been an ominous display from the Kiwis in outclassing the hosts ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India.
This is the third time that New Zealand have managed to win a Test series in England. It is also the first Test series win for New Zealand in the country since 1999 when Stephen Fleming’s side won a four-Test rubber 2-1.
Stuart Broad and Olly Stone took the wickets of openers Devon Conway and Will Young. Conway, who scored 80 in the first innings, was dismissed for just three on Sunday, thus making it his first single digit score of the series. He ends the series as the highest scorer with 303 runs which includes a 200 in the first innings of the first Test, which was also his debut in the longest format of the game.
Victory gave New Zealand just a third win in 18 Test series in England and a first this century after their 1986 and 1999 triumphs.
By contrast, this was England’s first series loss at home since a 2014 defeat by Sri Lanka.
England resumed on the brink of defeat at 122-9 in their second innings, a lead of just 37 runs, after a top-order collapse that had seen them slump to 76-7.
Stone then fell for his overnight 15 when he edged left-arm quick Trent Boult and was caught behind, with James Anderson — in his England record 162nd Test — unbeaten on nought.
But the real damage had been done on Saturday when England’s top-order failed in an innings where fast bowler Mark Wood’s 29 was the top score.
Matt Henry, one of an extraordinary six changes to the New Zealand side that played at Lord’s, took the first three wickets to fall in a return of 3-36, with Neil Wagner following up with 3-18.
Such is the Blackcaps’ strength in depth, however, that either bowler could be replaced by the rested Tim Southee when New Zealand face India in next week’s inaugural World Test Championship final at Southampton.
