An England team that has made a virtue of enjoying life off the field earned themselves another day at leisure in New Zealand after wrapping up a thumping 267-run win in the first Test in Mount Maunganui that continued their remarkable hot streak.It was admittedly something of a formality after the night terrors induced by Stuart Broad’s four-wicket surge at the end of day three.
New Zealand resumed their unlikely pursuit of 394 to win on a desperate 63 for five, with a fierce sun beating down and little more than pride to play for.
Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week’s action after newsletter promotion Only Daryl Mitchell, 57 not out, and No 11 Blair Tickner offered any resistance on the day, however, with the hosts bowled out for 126 by 3.40pm - exactly 100 minutes of cricket.
Jimmy Anderson claimed four of the five remaining wickets, wrapping up England’s first victory in an away day-night Test when he rattled Tickner’s off stump.This was also England’s first victory in New Zealand since 2008 - the tour that saw Anderson and Broad first united - and a 10th in 11 matches since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took charge at the start of last summer.