After failing to qualify for the final of the ICC World Test championship 2023 at Oval, white ball (ODI & T20I) champions England are just 210 runs away from clean sweeping inaugural WTC Champions New Zealand by 2-0 at the Basin Reserve Stadium at Wellington.
The Three Lions registered a massive victory by 267 runs in the first of the 2 match Test series. England were all over the hosts in the first Test at Bay Oval after losing the toss and batting first. The visitors through important knocks from Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Ben Foakes, England amassed 325 runs in the 1st innings after losing to the toss.
In response, the Kiwis fell 19 runs short to end the trail as England removed some key Kiwi batters cheaply. It was only through Devon Conway’s 77 and Tom Blundell’s 138 that the Blackcaps scored 306 runs. But the home team’s underwhelming bowling performance in the 3rd innings saw England score 378 runs.
Ben Stokes’ side then bowled out the New Zealanders for 126 with Harry Brook winning the man of the match award for his 89 & 54. In the 2nd test meanwhile, England have an 87.5% chances of winning and clean sweep the series. The game was totally in control of the visitors right from the 1st innings.
Joe Root and Harry Brook’s 150s baffled the Kiwis and England posted 435 runs. New Zealand bowed out for just 209 and followed on to make 483 and gave the Three Lions 258 runs to chase.
After a promising start from Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in the run chase on Day 4, the latter was dismissed late, leaving England requiring 210 runs to win on the second Test’s final day.
Kane Williamson’s 26th Test century, along with half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell, helped set up the goal of 265 and the turn around in the match before Jack Leach’s wicketkeeper bowled out New Zealand for 483 in their second essay.
