New Zealand tour of England 2021

13 Jun 2021

Stand-in captain Tom Latham hit the winning runs as New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket win in the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Sunday. Latham hit a four off Mark Wood in the 11th over of New Zealand's fourth innings, thus helping his team chase down a measly target of 38 after England were all out for 122.

New Zealand have thus won the two-match series 1-0 in what has been an ominous display from the Kiwis in outclassing the hosts ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India.

This is the third time that New Zealand have managed to win a Test series in England. It is also the first Test series win for New Zealand in the country since 1999 when Stephen Fleming's side won a four-Test rubber 2-1.

Stuart Broad and Olly Stone took the wickets of openers Devon Conway and Will Young. Conway, who scored 80 in the first innings, was dismissed for just three on Sunday, thus making it his first single digit score of the series. He ends the series as the highest scorer with 303 runs which includes a 200 in the first innings of the first Test, which was also his debut in the longest format of the game.

Latham, who was standing in for the injured Kane Williamson as New Zealand's captain, ended the match unbeaten on 23.

England were reduced to 122/9 in the last session of the third day and their last wicket fell off the very first ball of Day 4. Olly Stone was the last man to be dismissed for the hosts, nicking the ball to New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell on 15 off fast bowler Trent Boult. Boult ended the innings with figures of 2/34. Neil Wagner and Matt Henry were the highest wicket-takers for the Kiwis with figures of 3/18 and 3/36 respectively.

Henry triggered England's collapse by dismissing the top three within the first 11 overs of the hosts' second innings. While openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley fell in the second session of the day, No.3 Zak Crawley fell four overs into the third.

The hosts' batting order fell apart after that and it was 44-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Wood and Ollie Stone that helped England to a slender lead of 37 runs at the end of the day.

New Zealand had earlier replied to England's first innings 303 with 388 in 119.1 overs thanks to superb half-centuries from Devon Conway, Ross Taylor and Will Young.

New Zealand now face India in the WTC final at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18.