Super Stokes trumps Kiwis
Ben Stokes followed up his record-breaking century with a brilliant three-wicket haul as England completed a stunning124-run win over New Zealand at Lord's yesterday.
In the last session of Tea England needed five wickets to wrap up the innings. However, with BJ Watling and Corey Anderson, stroking their way to a century stand for the sixth wicket, it seemed as though the hosts would be kept at bay.
However, once Watling was caught behind in the 51st over, New Zealand stumbled. Anderson fell three overs later and the rest of the tail was swept with 9.3 overs remaining on the final day.
At tea on the fifth and final day, New Zealand were 134 for five.
They needed to bat through the final session to force a draw and prevent themselves going 1-0 down in this two-match series.
However, the gritty Watling and the dashing Corey, with their sixth-wicket stand revived the Black Caps.
New Zealand, who had earlier collapsed to 12 for three, found themselves 61 for five when Stokes, who on Sunday had scored the fastest Test-hundred at Lord's, off 85 balls, struck twice in his third over.
Kane Williamson, who made 132 in the tourists' first innings, fell for 27 when he guided Stokes to Joe Root in the gully.
And next ball New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum played on to a Stokes inswinger.
Given a roar by the crowd worthy of Ian Botham or Andrew Flintoff, Stokes, the New Zealand-born son of former Kiwi rugby league international Ged Stokes, who came to England as a 12-year-old, charged in again.
But Anderson survived the hattrick delivery, allowing the ball to pass his stumps.
Anderson, in Stokes-like fashion, later pulled the Durham all-rounder for six.
Deciding attack was the best form of defence, Anderson completed a 44-ball fifty in which 46 of his runs -- 10 fours and a six -- came in boundaries.
New Zealand were rocked from the very start of their chase, losing both openers for ducks without a run on the board in a match where, for the most part, they had been on top.
The second ball of New Zealand's innings saw Martin Guptill caught in the slips by Gary Ballance off James Anderson.
Guptill's exit left Anderson just one wicket shy of becoming only the 12th bowler and first from England to take 400 Test wickets.
Earlier, England were dismissed for 478 after resuming on 429 for six.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: 389 and 478 (Cook 162, Stokes 101; Boult 5-85, Henry 2-106)
NEW ZEALAND: 523 and 220 all out in 67.3 overs (Anderson 67, Watling 59; Broad 3-50, Stokes 3-38)
Result: England won by 124 runs
Comments