![New Zealand wins series in final Ben Stokes match for England [Source: AFP, @BlackCaps/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1782739020589_Ben_Stokes_New_Zealand.jpg?type=hq)
New Zealand wins series in final Ben Stokes match for England [Source: AFP, @BlackCaps/x]
New Zealand decimated England on a thrilling Day 5 of their series-deciding third Test to seal their three-match series 2-1. The outcome also seemingly ended England’s revolutionary ‘BazBall’ era, which incidentally began with a 3-0 sweep over New Zealand exactly four years ago.
England captain Ben Stokes, who announced his retirement from international cricket on Day 4 of the match yesterday, will now bow out of the game on a losing note to the nation of his birth. Here is how the match transpired at Trent Bridge in Nottingham between June 25 and June 29.
Conway, Latham plunder twin tons before Stokes take landmark four
New Zealand started off the series-decider with an epic 317-run opening partnership between captain Tom Latham and Devon Conway. Both cricketers plundered over 150 runs each as the visitors reached a strong 361-4 on Day 1.
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However, England captain Ben Stokes picked up four fighting wickets to limit New Zealand’s first innings total to just 438 in 114.5 overs. In the process, the legendary cricketer also completed 250 wickets in his Test career to attain a rare all-round double.
Nathan Smith, Will O’Rourke douse Duckett’s fiery ton
England’s firebrand opener Ben Duckett raced away to a fiery 113-run ton off 99 balls. Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook also listed courageous fifties, but England folded up for just 354 to concede an 84-run advantage to the visitors at the halfway stage of the match.
For New Zealand, fast bowlers Nathan Smith (4-91), Will O’Rourke (3-53) and Zak Foulkes (3-35) accounted for all 10 wickets between them.
Archer’s four fails to contain Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell’s counterattack
Jofra Archer struck twice with the new ball to wreck New Zealand’s top-order at 51-3. All-rounders Rachin Ravindra (94 off 149) and Daryl Mitchell (100* off 241) subsequently forged 129 runs for the fourth wicket, with the latter remaining unbeaten till the end to notch up a cautious century. New Zealand declared at 288-9 to set England an improbable target of 373.
Archer picked up four in the innings, while comeback men Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes chipped in with two wickets each. Interestingly, Stokes also confirmed his retirement from international cricket during the fag end of the second New Zealand innings.
Zak Foulkes the hero as New Zealand script history
Zak Foulkes picked up each of England’s first three wickets, including that of experimental opener Ben Stokes in his retirement match. Jamie Smith put up a fight, but two wickets apiece for Nathan Smith and Mitchell Santner pinned England down at 212 in 51.2 overs on a thrilling Day 5 as New Zealand won the decider by 160 runs.
In the process, the ‘Black Caps’ became the first side in Test history to win a series in England after losing the opening Test.
Ben Stokes walks off on a losing note as ‘BazBall’ goes up in flames
Ben Stokes, who heralded England’s no-holds-barred ‘BazBall’ approach way back in June 2022 against New Zealand with three audacious run chases, has now lost to the very same opponents four years later, albeit in his retirement series.
With that, New Zealand not only sealed one of their finest Test triumphs in England but also consigned Stokes' glittering international career to a losing farewell.
In many ways, it was a fitting twist after the heartbreak Stokes had inflicted on his birth nation in the 2019 World Cup final.
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