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Brydon Carse took six wickets in the second innings and 10 in the match before Jacob Bethell’s dashing debut fifty clinched England’s eight-wicket victory over New Zealand on the fourth day of the first Test in Christchurch.
Bethell (50 not out from 37) hit four boundaries in an over against Nathan Smith – the bowler who had dismissed him for 10 in the first innings – and nine in total as England reached a target of 104 in 12.4 overs.
The 21-year-old pinned Smith for six before bagging the match-sealing single.
A worry for the tourists ahead of Friday’s second Test in Wellington will be the condition of Ben Stokes’ back after the captain stopped while bowling and was unable to complete his over, although he remained on the ground and said during the post-match presentation that he was just managing his body.
England captain Ben Stokes stopped while bowling on the fourth morning at Hagley Oval
Zak Crawley’s form may also be a concern, after the opener followed his first-innings duck by falling to Matt Henry for a run in the second, with his highest score in his last six Tests.
Bethell and Ben Duckett (27 off 18) eased nerves by hitting England to fifty in seven overs, before Joe Root hit an unbeaten 23 off 15 in his 150th Test after a rare duck on the second day.
New Zealand rallied to make it 155-6, leading by just four, after Chris Woakes’ two wickets in as many balls the previous evening, including Kane Williamson for 61, had put England in complete control.
Daryl Mitchell (84) scored his 13th Test fifty, adding 45 with last man Will O’Rourke (5no), before leaving Carse (6-42) at long-on as the Black Caps were dismissed for 254 late in a first extended session. .
Earlier, Carse pinned Smith (21) and Henry (1) lbw with nip-backers in the eighth of the morning, while Gus Atkinson had Tim Southee (12) caught at midwicket as the Neo -Zealanders attempted their third six of the innings. and 96th of his Test career.
Carse (centre) now has 19 wickets in his first three Tests, averaging 17.10
Carse is the first England bowler to take a 10-wicket away match since spinner Monty Panesar in India in 2012 and the first seamer since Ryan Sidebottom in New Zealand 16 years ago.
England aim for long-awaited series win in New Zealand
England can now claim a first series victory in New Zealand since 2008 if they triumph at the Wellington Basin Reserves before the series ends – and Southee retires from Test cricket – at Seddon Park in Hamilton from from December 14.
Stokes was back to his best with the bat and as a leader in his native Christchurch after a difficult spell in Pakistan in October following his return from a hamstring injury. So England is hoping this latest issue with his body isn’t serious.
England were beaten 2-1 in Pakistan and headed to the New Zealand series having lost three of their last four Tests, having also traveled to Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval in September.
England will face New Zealand in the second Test in Wellington starting December 6
New Zealand, on the other hand, were coming off a 3-0 victory in India to become the first away team to win a series in that country since Sir Alastair Cook’s England in 2012.
The Kiwis probably started the England series as favorites and found themselves in promising positions in this Test before their own clumsiness contributed heavily to a crushing defeat.
A glut of rash hitting prevented New Zealand from improving on their first innings score of 348, while they subsequently lost eight catches to England, allowing their opponents to recover from 71-4 down to post 499 .
Brook and Carse shine for England as NZ Rue loses catches
Harry Brook (171) conceded after being shelled five times, first on 18, while Stokes (80) was bowled out on 30 before notching his highest Test score since his 155 in the Lord’s Ashes Test 2023.
Harry Brook scored 171 for England – his seventh century in 22 Tests – after being dropped five times
Stokes’ runs were huge for England, as was the 77 scored by stand-in wicketkeeper Ollie Pope from No. 6 after averaging a paltry 11 in Pakistan and questions were asked about his place.
England now have a decision to make ahead of the Wellington Test with uncapped Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson joining the squad to replace injured Jordan Cox (fractured thumb).
The tourists could restore Pope at number 3, bring in Robinson and omit Bethell or maintain a winning XI and keep Pope in what arguably seems his more natural position further down the order.
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Sky Sports’ Ian Ward examines the impact Carse has had on England’s Test bowling lineup
Bethell’s appearance on day four means England may be tempted to stay as they are, although Stokes’ fitness could complicate matters.
As for bowling, Carse’s pace, bounce and ability to move the Kookaburra ball are promising signs ahead of next winter’s Ashes, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir took four wickets on the day he opening, albeit aided by the aforementioned loose Kiwi strokeplay.
New Zealand’s defeat means their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next summer are now incredibly distant, with even victories in the last two matches against England unlikely to be enough .
Stokes hails Brook ‘incredible’ and Carse ‘workhorse’
England captain Ben Stokes:
Stokes described Christchurch’s victory as “a very good start”.
“I’m very happy with the way we played throughout the week. We were put under pressure on the second day, so to be able to score a big score in the first set was very pleasing.
“When the opposition is dropping catches left, right and centre, you want to go on and make that big score and Brooky (Harry Brook) is an incredible player, an incredible talent.
“Having someone with his abilities in our middle order is exceptional. He is constantly looking to put pressure on the bowlers and is getting better and better.
“I also thought our bowlers were pretty relentless, so it was a really good start.
“I grew up with Brydon (Carse) in my Durham days and knew his potential and talent, so to see him have such an impact is incredible.
“He’s a workaholic and will charge through the day whether the conditions are in his favor or not.”
Latham: No one intends to give up on catches
New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who missed three of eight catches to go down:
“No one intends to give up catches. But I guess when you give opportunities to quality players, it can hurt you sometimes.
“We weren’t quite at our best, but we know how fickle this game can be. We’ll head to Wellington and stay reasonably level.”
England test tour of New Zealand
- First test (Christchurch): England win by eight wickets
- Second try: December 6-10 (Wellington)
- Third try: December 14-18 (Hamilton)
