Debutant Bethell leads England to eight-wicket win over NZ

CHRISTCHURCH: England blazed to an eight-wicket victory in the first Test against New Zealand Sunday, knocking off their 104-run target in just 12.4 overs of their second innings.

After bowling out New Zealand for 254 on day four in Christchurch, debutant Jacob Bethell scored the winning run to reach a maiden Test 50 off 37 deliveries with eight fours and a six. Joe Root was not out 23 off 15 balls at the other end.

“Very happy with the way we performed throughout the week,” said England captain Ben Stokes after his side took a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series. “Our bowlers were relentless throughout.”

New Zealand resumed on 155-6 in their second innings, a lead of four runs, and frustrated England for more than two hours to reach 254, a lead of 103. Daryl Mitchell, 31 overnight, scored a defiant 84 and put on a stubborn 13-over partnership for the last wicket worth 45 runs with Will O´Rourke (five not out).

England´s Brydon Carse took six second-innings wickets to finish with 10 in a Test for the first time. The 104-run target was never going to be enough to stop England, who sealed the Test midway through the afternoon session.

They lost Zak Crawley in the second over, caught and bowled by Matt Henry for one, and Ben Duckett caught by Henry off O´Rourke for a rapid 27 off 18 balls before Bethell and Root took over. The home defeat evaporated New Zealand´s euphoria from their recent 3-0 sweep in India and all but ended their hopes of a berth in the World Test Championship final.

Through the first two sessions of the Test, the Black Caps had the upper hand, despite losing the toss, as they reached 199-3 on a seamers´ wicket. Even when they were all out for 348 and England were 71-4 in reply the momentum was with New Zealand.

But from there the game turned England´s way with belligerent batting aided by sloppy fielding, which included eight dropped catches. When New Zealand batted again, a masterful seam bowling session by Chris Woakes and player-of-the-match Carse tilted the match firmly back to England.

“We were happy with the position we had, and we had our opportunities,” said New Zealand captain Tom Latham “On a different day, catches go to hand and things might be different, but that´s the sport we play.” England´s first innings 499 gave them an imposing 151 run-lead, but had New Zealand taken their catches it could have been a different scenario.

Harry Brook was dropped on 18, Stokes was put down on 50 and added 30 more, a catch off Duckett was spilt on 25 and he went on to make 46, while Carse finished 33 not out after escaping on six. “Catches win matches,” said Brook as he reflected on the five lives he had on his way to 171.