New Zealand levelled the three-match Test series against a new-look England team with a 253-run win at The Kia Oval.
The series against the Black Caps is followed by a Test series against Pakistan, with Edgbaston hosting the third and final fixture between the two sides which begins on Wednesday 9 September. Limited tickets remain available for all five days, with day three 90% sold out. Buy yours. New Zealand led by 100 runs after the first innings, and never looked back, producing a dominant display with both bat and ball to set up a thrilling deciding Test at Trent Bridge later this week.
England won the toss on day one and bowled first, making early inroads by picking up the wickets of Tom Latham (27), Devon Conway (9) and Henry Nicholls (24), before Baker removed Rachin Ravindra for 33 to pick up his first wicket in Test cricket.
It was New Zealand’s middle-order that halted England’s progress though, with Glenn Phillips striking a maiden Test century, alongside a half century from Tom Blundell and 40s apiece for Daryl Mitchell and Kyle Jamieson, as New Zealand were bowled out for 391. Warwickshire’s Jacob Bethell was the pick of the England attack, taking three for 26.
Opener Emilio Gay scored a second Test half century in as many games to get England’s reply off to a good start, but five wickets from Matt Henry (five for 80), including the key scalps of Joe Root (46) and Harry Brook (24), saw England reduced to 236 for eight. Matthew Fisher’s maiden Test 50 helped England to 291 all out.
England took two wickets at the start of New Zealand’s second innings, however it was the visitors’ middle order again that did the damage. A 171-ball 121 by Henry Nicholls anchored the innings, with New Zealand’s total boosted by 76 from Ravindra and 68 by Mitchell before they were all out for 362 and with a lead of 463.
Requiring a record run-chase to win the series two-nil, a 97-run fourth wicket stand between Joe Root (77) and Harry Brook (58) gave England hope, but after Henry dismissed both players for the second time in the match, England fell away quickly on day five and were eventually dismissed for 209.
Henry ended the match with career-best figures of 11 for 109, helping to set up a fascinating deciding Test with Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in-line to return for England.
The third and final Test between England and New Zealand this summer takes place from Thursday 25 June at Trent Bridge.
