One-nil to the Engerland

By Aiden McLaughlin

Two days is a long time in Test cricket, especially when one of the teams is Ben Stokes’ England. At 71-4 in their first innings, on the afternoon of day two, Harry Brook came to the wicket with the visitors looking at a likely first innings deficit. He was dropped for the first time on 18, and well, you know the rest.

As day four started, it was hard to see anything but an England victory. But an almost capacity crowd turned up for the hottest day since day one, and New Zealand had hope. But halfway through the afternoon, it was the Barmy Army who were celebrating victory, with the local bars the most likely to benefit.

The Blackcaps resumed at 155-6 off 49 overs, a lead of just four, with initial hopes lying with Daryl Mitchell and Nathan Smith in the Garden City.

Having looked comfortable in the first half hour, with the pair adding 35 off seven overs, it was Brydon Carse who made the breakthrough, dismissing Smith lbw for 21. Although Smith reviewed, it was in vain, and Matt Henry made his way out to the middle to join Mitchell.

The Cantabrian didn’t last long however, scoring just one off his three deliveries before Carse picked his first five wicket haul in Test cricket, with another lbw decision.

There was a setback for England shortly after Southee came out to bat. Captain Ben Stokes, bowling his fifth over of the day was unable to complete all six balls, with Gus Atkinson finishing the second half of the over.

Tim Southee brought up the 200 for New Zealand with a couple of trademark sixes off Atkinson and pushed the lead past fifty just before the first hour of play was complete. But those were his only scoring shots and his 13-ball innings came to an end soon afterwards as he was caught by Root after not quite getting hold of another pull shot off Atkinson.

New Zealand’s number eleven, Will O’Rourke, came out to join Mitchell with the lead standing at 58. O’Rourke managed to face 39 important balls, and although he only scored five, Mitchell was able to drive the total forward to 254 – a lead of 103 – before giving Carse his sixth wicket, caught by Chris Woakes, with Mitchell having made 84.

England opener Zak Crawley wasted an opportunity to make up for his first innings duck, scoring just one before Matt Henry took his wicket through a sharp caught and bowled chance.

It brought to the crease Jacob Bethall, who had scored a 34-ball 10 in his first Test innings. At the other end, Ben Duckett looked like he had a Clearwater tee time to make as he smashed four four’s and a six on the way to 27 off just 18 balls. But he tried one big shot too many, falling to O’Rourke off his first delivery, caught on the deep third boundary by Henry.

Root joined Bethall, who had himself followed Duckett’s lead in trying to wrap things up quickly. The youngster may not play at The Basin – Stokes looks unlikely to bowl and so another bowler is likely to replace him – but he showed enough to justify his selection at number three in this match, clinching victory for his side with an unbeaten 50 off 37 deliveries, including eight fours and a six, as England chased down their target in the thirteenth over.

The sides meet again in Wellington on Friday and the Blackcaps have their own selection conundrums; can a place be found for Will Young and what will the make-up of the bowling attack be. There are options, but will it be the status quo as Tim Southee reaches the end of his Test career. Time will tell.

#Statchat

• Brydon Carse’s 6 for 42 was his first five wicket haul in Tests, in just his third match. He now has a total of 19 Test wickets at 17.10
• Carse is the first England bowler to take a 10-wicket haul in an away Test since Monty Panesar in India in 2012. He’s the first seamer since Ryan Sidebottom in New Zealand 16 years ago
• This was Matt Henry’s seventh Test in  2024. Since making his Test debut in 2015, the most Tests he has played in a calendar year before now, is four (2016 & 2023)
• Henry has now dismissed Zak Crawley four times in Tests, conceding just 19 runs at an average of 4.75

 

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