England win their first Test series in New Zealand for more than 16 YEARS after cruising to 323-run victory inside three days in Wellington – as they target unexpected 3-0 whitewash


England have won their first Test series in New Zealand for more than 16 years after they completed a crushing 323-run victory inside three days at the Basin Reserve.

On an impossibly windy day in Wellington, only a fighting hundred from wicketkeeper Tom Blundell threatened to blow them off course. And Ben Stokes‘s team can now set their sights on an unexpected 3-0 whitewash in Hamilton.

Set a notional 583, New Zealand were dismissed for 259, giving England their first overseas series win since beating Pakistan two years ago. It also means they will end 2024 in credit, with nine Test wins set against seven defeats, and three series victories to go with two losses.

Of those three, this has been comfortably the most impressive. While the two others were at home against West Indies and Sri Lanka, this one came against a New Zealand riding high after their once-in-a-lifetime 3-0 win in India. England, meanwhile, had just lost in Pakistan.

But their batsmen, led by Harry Brook and to a lesser extent Ollie Pope, have dug them out of a hole in each of the first two Tests, and the bowling of Brydon Carse – fast, accurate and mean – has been outstanding.

The wickets were shared around on the third and final day, though Carse was, as ever, in the thick of it. After Chris Woakes had bowled Devon Conway for a duck, then had Kane Williamson caught behind for four during a superb opening spell, Carse took a reflex return catch off his second ball to send back New Zealand captain Tom Latham for 24.

England win their first Test series in New Zealand for more than 16 YEARS after cruising to 323-run victory inside three days in Wellington – as they target unexpected 3-0 whitewash

England wrapped up a series victory over New Zealand after winning the second Test

The hosts were dismissed for 259 in Wellington on a memorable day for the tourists

The hosts were dismissed for 259 in Wellington on a memorable day for the tourists

Joe Root completed his 36th Test hundred before falling on 106, leading England to declare

Joe Root completed his 36th Test hundred before falling on 106, leading England to declare

And, with rain already falling over the ground, Carse induced a rash cut from Rachin Ravindra, who was caught behind for six. 

Moments later, with New Zealand 59 for four, the rain – now driving horizontally across the ground as it lashed in from the direction of the harbour – forced an early lunch.

Once it relented, England got to work once more. Gus Atkinson produced a beauty to have Daryl Mitchell caught behind for 32, and it was 141 for six when Shoaib Bashir speared a quicker one through a lame prod from Glenn Phillips.

Blundell, though, found a gutsy ally in Nathan Smith, and the pair enjoyed themselves in a raucous stand of 97 in 15.4 overs, with Bashir repeatedly hit back over his head for six.

And it took a smart piece of work to end the fun. 

As Blundell set himself to ramp Bashir, Ben Duckett – anticipating the stroke – moved from slip to leg slip, and parried the ball with his left hand. As it fell to the ground, he was quick enough to turn and catch the rebound, sending Blundell on his way for 115 off 102 balls.

The innings didn’t last long after that, as Stokes hoovered up the tail to finish with three for five – his best Test figures since July 2022.

Earlier, Joe Root completed his 36th Test hundred – moving him up to joint-fifth on the all-time list with Rahul Dravid – before his dismissal for 106 brought up England’s declaration at 427 for six.

The wickets were shared across the final day as England quickly got to work

The wickets were shared across the final day as England quickly got to work

Ben Duckett took a catch to dismiss Tom Blundell after the wicketkeeper's fighting century

Ben Duckett took a catch to dismiss Tom Blundell after the wicketkeeper’s fighting century

Brydon Carse was in the thick of the action with his bowling again fast, accurate and mean

Brydon Carse was in the thick of the action with his bowling again fast, accurate and mean

Root had resumed on 73 on a blustery third morning, and comfortably outscored Stokes, even while his captain was trying to hit the cover off every ball. 

But Root opted for the orthodox, until – on 98 – he pulled out the reverse-ramp off Will O’Rourke and was celebrating almost before the ball had reached the boundary.

Stokes had both arms raised in delight too, as Root brought up his sixth Test hundred of 2024, equalling the England record for a calendar year – held by Denis Compton, Michael Vaughan, Jonny Bairstow… and Root himself.

When Root edged the deserving O’Rourke to the diving Blundell for 106, Stokes – unbeaten on 49 – called it a day, setting New Zealand their implausible target.



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