England close in on series clean-sweep despite Kane Williamson century for New Zealand

27.02.2023 - 15:13 thenationalnews.com

England need another 210 runs to defeat New Zealand on the final day of the second Test – a win that would secure them a series clean-sweep.

England were 48-1 at stumps, with opener Ben Duckett (23 not out) and nightwatchman Ollie Robinson (one not out) surviving the tense final overs at the Basin Reserve after New Zealand captain Tim Southee bowled Zak Crawley for 24.

England will fancy their chances of reeling in the remaining runs on Day 5, having chased down 277, 299 and 296 in successive Tests to whitewash New Zealand at home last summer.

Ben Stokes's team also mowed down a record 378 to beat India in Birmingham as the Ben Stokes-Brendan McCullum captain-coach partnership now targets a seventh successive Test win.

bowling on Ollie Robinson Zak Crawley Tom Blundell Tim Southee New Zealand India Wellington county Kane

New Zealand maintained their dominance over Sri Lanka in the second Test on Sunday, enforcing a follow-on and setting up the likelihood of a series clean sweep with two days to play.

New Zealand on the brink of series sweep after enforcing follow on

New Zealand moved to the brink of a 2-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka on day three of the second test on Sunday by dismissing the tourists for 164 and reducing them to 113 for two, still 303 runs in arrears, after enforcing the follow on.

New Zealand 1-1 England: player ratings for the Test series

Ben Stokes: 110 runs at 27.50; one wicket at 54; one catchBy the end the body was broken, the was spirit bruised but the attitude was still intact – I was reminded of Fred Dibnah, the ruins of a tall chimney at his feet, grinning and asking “Did you like that?” A rare series win in New Zealand was sacrificed on the altar of Bazball, a chance to set a target of more than 500 for the draw, which would have secured the series, eschewed with the follow-on. But an unforgettable denouement became the legacy, as Kane Williamson and Neil Wagner charged through a door ever so slightly ajar. Are you not entertained? That said, is the price worth paying? You would have to possess no soul to say no conclusively. Grade B

"Test Cricket Is Best Cricket": Virender Sehwag And Others Hail New Zealand's Win vs England

New Zealand scripted a beautiful story to become the fourth team to secure a Test victory after facing a follow-on. Each player stepped up when the moment demanded it. Kane Williamson and Neil Wagner played a pivotal role in making this test match a classic one. After being put into bat by New Zealand captain Tim Southee, England put up a blistering performance in the first innings of the second Test. On the back of hundreds from Harry Brook (186) and Joe Root (153*), they got to 435/8 in merely 87.1 overs. England's bowlers then got into the act to bundle out the Kiwis for 209. England skipper Ben Stokes enforced the follow-on.

Watch: "Test Cricket At Its Finest" - How Neil Wagner Sealed New Zealand's Dramatic Win Over England

New Zealand on Tuesday edged out England by 1 runs to win the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and levelled the two-match series at 1-1. Neil Wagner was the star of the show for the Kiwis as he bagged a four-wicket haul, including the decisive wicket of James Anderson. With England needing two just two runs to sweep the series, Wagner targetted Anderson with short balls and was rewarded with it as New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell pulled off a diving catch to make history.

New Zealand Beat England By 1 Run In Thriller, Achieve Rare Test Feat

New Zealand beat England by just one run in a second-Test thriller on Tuesday to draw the series despite having been forced to follow-on in Wellington. With the win, New Zealand became just the third team (after England and India) to win a Test match after following on. It was only the fourth occasion a team has won a Test after being asked to follow on. England managed it twice, against Australia in 1894 and 1981, while India beat Australia in 2001. New Zealand set England a target of 258 runs to win, but the visitors were all out for 256 in dramatic scenes as the two-Test series finished 1-1.