NZ VS ENG 2ND TEST

Right then, that is it from the series then. England had a lead and was well on track to winning the series but the hosts bounced back from nowhere and leveled. The trophy has been shared between Stokes and Southee. We hope you enjoyed our company. Until next time, goodbye and take care. Cheers!

Ben Stokes the skipper of England says this was a game of the highest quality and he was mesmerized by the quality on display all around the game. On a game-changing moment, he said that it was Wagner who blew this game wide open and won them this game. He added that we knew once caught up in that situation that the bouncer will be attempted more often on us and we had a plan for that too but we failed to execute that and the opponents won as they deserve to win. On his knee, he said that the knee is bad but it is okay. He closes by saying disappointed to end like this but the team would have taken 4 wins out of 5 with both hands.

Tim Southee the skipper of New Zealand says this game is right up there, to bounce back after a follow-on is something special and pleasing. He adds that this will take some time in soaking in as it takes a lot of character to bounce back after follow-on. He also adds the guys are top quality and nothing much was said between us after the defeat in the first game as the belief and trust in each other is still there in the team. He also lauded senior players like Kane, Wagner, and Blundell to showcase their experience at a time when the team needed it the most. He closes by saying that it is brilliant for test cricket the way England plays and we are looking forward to more such games as such games will keep the format alive.

Harry brook is the player of the series. He says It feels bittersweet right now, the track did not seem this good but this was a really nice track for both sets of players. On his bowling, he says that he is happy to be called a part-time bowler and doesn't consider himself a bowler. He closes by saying that if anybody would have given him this game before the start he would have taken it on a personal level but he would have loved to change the result of this game in their favor.

Kane Williamson is the player of the match. He says it feels so proud to be standing here after such a game, congratulations to both teams for putting up a game like this for the spectators. He adds that the team saw some valuable partnerships and that injected momentum in the side which is needed after a display as we did in the first innings. He also adds that the quality of the opponent was really good and even the track was perfect as it had everything from partnerships between the batters to a fifer from Jack Leach, such tracks are really good for the game.

Presentations coming up...

Tom Blundell is in for a chat. He says he is really happy that he took the catch cleanly and it all went well. He adds that after the bad performance in the first inning, it was important for the team to work in partnerships and they managed to do that well. He closes by saying that it was tough keeping out in the middle as it was challenging but such situations make a player better and it worked well in his favor.

Neil Wagner is in for a quick chat. He says he is feeling over the cloud t this moment and hats off to the team for pulling out such a performance. He adds that credit goes to the team to pull back a victory in a game where follow-on was inflicted on them and the team was below par in the first innings but they bounced back brilliantly and that gave them the momentum to pull up the unthinkable.

Phew! What a rollicking performance this has been from both sides. England at the start came out all guns blazing and declared at 435. They bundled the hosts for 209 and gave them a follow on having a lead of 226 runs. The hosts overcame their lead and gave England a challenging target of 258 to chase and defended the total where the visitors just fell short of one run.

Chasing a total of 258 runs, England lost early wickets earlier in the day but were rescued by Joe Root who was the star. England was cruising till he was on, but when he lost his wicket, the wickets kept on tumbling for them and New Zealand certainly took advantage of it. Ben Foakes stood firm at the end but fell for a shorter delivery. For the hosts, Neil Wagner was the pick of the bowlers as he picked 4 wickets and turned the game on its head. He was ably supported by Tim Southee who picked up 3 wickets. Matt Henry got a couple of wickets to his name as New Zealand came from behind to win this epic Test match.

Coming to the game now, it was England who was in the driver's seat when Day 4 started, and New Zealand needed something magical if they were to pull a victory here, and boy did New Zealand not put on a dominating show here. The momentum of the game just shifted from one corner to another like a pendulum and at the end, it came down the wire where New Zealand clinched a victory by just 1 run!

What a remarkable game of Test cricket we have noticed here at Basin Reserve, Wellington! The series is level and what a finish this has been for this game. Pure emotion from New Zealand and it does not get any better. This surely goes down as one of the greatest Test cricket matches in history. Brendon McCullum exchanges a smile with his former teammates.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Unbelievable scenes from Wellington. What a finish to this test match. Back of a length drifting down leg, James Anderson looks to flick this towards fine leg but gets a faint edge and Tom Blundell dives to his right and collects the most important catch of the match. England loses the wicket of James Anderson and this match by 2 runs.

Bouncer not directed well as it flies down to leg, James Anderson lets this go.

Short-pitched delivery outside the line of stumps, Jack Leach ducks down to this one.

Fuller delivery around middle, Jack Leach drives this towards mid on. The fielder makes a good stop diving to his right. Dot.

On a length outside off, Jack Leach decides not to poke at this.