ENGLAND'S TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND, 2018

New Zealand end 34-year wait; register home Test series win over England

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Sodhi made an unbeaten fifty to keep England at bay. © Getty

New Zealand ended their 34-year wait to register a home Test series win over England as lower-order resistance bailed them out on the final day of the second Test in Christchurch, on Tuesday (April 3). New Zealand started the day on 42 for no loss and ended on 256 for 8 as bad light forced England to settle for a draw. Kane Williamson's class of 2018, hence, took the series 1-0 after their innings win in Auckland in the first Test.

Ish Sodhi emerged as the unlikely hero for the hosts with the bat as he batted out 168 deliveries for his unbeaten 58 to frustrate England. New Zealand had failed to register a Test series win over England at home in the last six series. While England won three of them, the other three ended in draws.

New Zealand did well to hang on and should thank Colin de Grandhomme, Sodhi and Tom Latham for helping them get away unscathed. New Zealand, in fact, were dented on the first two deliveries of the day itself. Stuart Broad had Jeet Raval caught at square leg and then had Williamson caught behind after eking out an outside edge from a back of length delivery. From 42 for no loss, New Zealand were soon tottering at 91 for 4.

With the ball going soft and the track not offering much, England needed something to happen. Fortunately for them, the New Zealand batsmen made it easy for them. Ross Taylor swept a ball to short fine leg just after he was brought in while Henry Nicholls chased a delivery angled away from him and was caught at first slip. Latham and BJ Watling batted out the first session to take the team to 124 for 4 but the most baffling dismissal came from the latter.

Watling walked across the stumps expecting a short ball from Mark Wood and then glanced a full ball straight to leg slip after a 66-ball stay. Leach then dismissed Latham, caught at square leg trying to sweep a ball from the rough, as he fell for 83 off 207.

De Grandhomme faced 97 deliveries for his 45 but more importantly chewed up 25.5 overs with Ish Sodhi to keep England at bay. Their 57-run stand came to an end when de Grandhomme, somewhat carelessly, pulled a short ball from Wood straight to fine leg to bring England back in the game. With the sun out, the pressure was off England as they found themselves in a good position to push for a win after an elongated period of frustration.

Make no mistake, Sodhi was exceptionally lucky. On more than a few occasion catches flew just past the fielders as he continued to grind. He found a perfect partner in Niel Wagner as well. Wagner, with the ball in hand, likes to give it to the batsmen. He's always in their face reminding them of his aggression. In the fading light, he was at the receiving end. A short ball barrage was launched on him as he continued to duck, deflect, defend and sway away from the challenge. To his credit, he played with an uncluttered mind even when the spinners came on.

England deployed their non-fielding staff, the additional players at the boundary to quicken the process. Fielders ran to different ends in between overs as Root and Co. tried everything to keep their unbeaten streak intact. Wagner made 7 off 103 before he fell to Root with five minutes to go. Sodhi walked off to a standing ovation New Zealand pulled off an amazing escape.

England bowlers gave the team hope. New Zealand lower order killed it in some style.

Brief scores: England 307 (Jonny Bairstow 101; Tim Southee 6-62) & 352/9 dec (James Vince 76; Colin de Grandhomme 4-94) drew with New Zealand 278 (BJ Watling 85; Stuart Broad 6-52) & 256/8 (Tom Latham 83; Mark Wood 2-45).

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