Mount Maunganui, 19 February: England put on a clinical team effort to record an impressive win over New Zealand in 267 runs in the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in their two games here on Sunday.
Evergreen duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who made history on Saturday when they passed Australian greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to become team-mates with the most wickets in Test history, were once again on course to cap off the Test triumph for England in style. What is Nighthawk in cricket? Everything you need to know about the latest semester at Bazball School of Test Cricket.
On Sunday, Anderson picked up two wickets in as many balls to pack Scott Kuggeleijn and Tim Southee early in the session, while the veteran finished the job when he returned to offense to sack Blair Tickner and end the match.
It was the first time England had won a Test on New Zealand soil in almost 15 years. The most recent triumph came when a seven-wicket pull in the first innings by Ryan Sidebottom led Michael Vaughan’s side to victory at McLean Park in Napier in March 2008. Ben Stokes broke Brendon McCullum’s record for most sixes in Test cricket score, and scores a performance at 1st Test NZ vs ENG 2023 (watch video).
That means England have now won 10 of their last 11 friendlies, with the only blemish since McCullum took charge earlier last year coming against South Africa at Lord’s.
It’s outstanding form of late and has helped England move up to third place in the men’s Test team rankings, behind only Australia and India, the ICC Test World Cup leaders.
Although the series in New Zealand is not part of the current World Test Championship, it will give England plenty of confidence ahead of the second game and this year’s Ashes series at home against Australia. England will look to win the series against New Zealand when the second Test begins in Wellington on February 25.
Short results: New Zealand 306 & 126 (Daryl Mitchell 57 not out; James Anderson 4-18, Stuart Broad 4-49) lost to England 325/9 decl. & 374 (Joe Root 57, Harry Brook 54, Ben Foakes 51, Ollie Pope 49; Blair Tickner 3-55) with 267 runs.
(The story above first appeared on LatestLY on February 19, 2023 3:03 p.m. IST. For more politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle news and updates, visit our website Latestly.com).
