New Delhi: England brushed aside New Zealand by eight wickets in the three-match Test series opener held at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. On the fourth day of the Test, the visitors looked in a hurry as they brought forth the “Bazball” approach and seized the game by chasing the 104-run target in just 12.4 overs. Despite the hosts starting the clash on a positive note, the momentum thoroughly shifted towards England in the first innings itself.
It has been quite some time since Test cricket last saw England batting with their famous approach. The term seems to be almost fading away, having made roars in the year that has gone by, since Brendon McCullum took the job of their head coach. But on what turned out to be the final day of the match, debutant Jacob Bethell oozed class and reached his maiden Test fifty in the nick of time, taking a single as the winning run.
🏴 ENGLAND WIN! 🏴
Brydon Carse takes 10 in the match and Harry Brook hits 171 in a brilliant victory in Christchurch 👊 pic.twitter.com/Zil5SWyW7Z
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 1, 2024
He had veteran batter Joe Root (23* off 15) by his side, who endured a duck in the first innings, but contributed decently to complete the quick chase. Earlier, opener Ben Duckett made an 18-ball 27 before he departed while Zak Crawley was sent back on 1 in the second over of the 104-run chase. England’s second-innings scorecard read 104/2 in 12.4 overs. Matt Henry and William O’Rourke were the pick of wickets for New Zealand.
The day started with Daryl Mitchell and debutant Nathan Smith on the crease, trying to extend New Zealand’s lead as the hosts were already six down overnight. Apart from Mitchell, no batting was left for the Blackcaps as England pacer Brydon Carse ran through the tail, picking two early wickets, and removed Mitchell as the last Kiwi wicket on 84(167) to bag a 10-wicket match-haul.
Carse picked six in the second innings and had four to his credit in the first and was therefore adjudged the Player of the Match. New Zealand were wrapped for 254 in their second innings, inclusive of Kane Williamson’s 61(86), setting a meagre 104-run target for the Three Lions.
Equally poised first innings
England had won the toss and opted to bowl first against the hosts, conceding 348 runs before bundling them out. Skipper Tom Latham made a decent 47 while Williamson starred in the first innings with a 93(197). He did miss his century by seven runs but it was a treat to watch the veteran batter in proper Test mode as he returned after recovering from a groin injury.
All-rounder Glenn Phillips provided a much-needed boost from down the order, scoring a 67-ball 58 and remaining unbeaten. For England, other than Carse (four wickets), Shoaib Bashir shone with four wickets as well and Gus Atkinson picked two.
As England walked out to eat up the deficit in the first innings, Crawley failed just like in the second innings, walking back on a duck. Duckett provided a decent start, hitting 46(62) before departing and Joe Root copped a four-ball duck. England were in deep trouble at this point until Harry Brook and Ollie Pope decided to stick to their ground and partnered for a reviving 150-run partnership.
Both had hit half-centuries at this point as Pope departed after scoring a brilliant 77(98). Brook was joined by skipper Ben Stokes with whom he stitched a 159-run stand to take England ahead of New Zealand. Brook scored his seventh Test century in the process, hitting 171 off 197 balls laced with 15 fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, Stokes scored a crucial 80 off 146 balls with the help of nine fours.
As if it wasn’t enough, England were helped by their pacers Atkinson (48 off 36) and Carse (33* off 24) to take England’s score to 499, giving them a lead of 151 runs. For New Zealand, Matt Henry bagged four wickets while debutant Smith picked three. Veteran Tim Southee scalped two while O’Rourke had one to his credit.
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