New Zealand pip England by history-matching margin

New Zealand defeated England in one of the tightest finishes in Test history, triumphing by a solitary run in Wellington as they became just the fourth side ever to win a game after following on.

England's last man James Anderson, who has never hit the winning runs in 179 appearances, was one swing of the bat away from sealing an unforgettable result for his side but when he was caught down the leg side from the faintest of edges off Neil Wagner, a thrilling contest came to a crushing conclusion for the tourists.

They had been bowled out for 256 pursuing a target of 258, having twice taken apparent control of the chase during partnerships between Joe Root and Ben Stokes then Ben Foakes and Jack Leach.

Only once before in 146 years of Test cricket has a game been settled by a single run - the West Indies beating Australia in 1993 - making this an even more agonising finish than England's famous two-run triumph at Edgbaston in the 2005 Ashes.

Remarkably, there is even an argument that this could have gone down as only the third ever tied Test with the penultimate ball of the match from Wagner perilously close to a wide.

In the end defeat was a particularly chastening result given England captain Ben Stokes' decision to make the Kiwis bat again on the third morning at Basin Reserve with a hulking 226-run lead in the bank. Only three teams have tasted loss after sending the opposition back in - the Australian classes of 1894, 1981 and 2001.

But Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum still boast a remarkable record of success since taking charge last summer, with 10 wins from 12 after this setback. And, measured against their own aim of revitalising interest in the longest format, this was another box emphatically ticked.

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