New Zealand registered an epic 1-run win over England in the 2nd Test match played at Basin Reserve, Wellington on 28 February 2023.
Tim Southee got the early breakthrough for his side by getting rid of nightwatchman Ollie Robinson. Matt Henry dismissed Ben Duckett to leave England in trouble. Neil Wagner produced another lovely delivery to get rid of Ollie Pope. Harry Brooks was run out without facing deliveries to leave England in trouble at 80 for 5.
Ben Stokes showed intent along with Joe Root keeping the scoreboard ticking. Root completed his fifty off just 50 balls and looked to take the game away from the opponents. Wagner got the breakthrough with short pitch delivery dismissing Stokes. Stokes and Root added 121 runs for the 6th wicket.
Wagner struck again to dismiss well-set Joe Root with a simple catch to Bracewell leaving England in trouble. Ben Foakes played clever innings while Jack Leach kept the good deliveries away. Southee struck with another short delivery caught by Wagner. Foakes and Leach added 36 runs for the 9th wicket.
Neil Wagner produced the magical delivery dismissing James Anderson down the leg with a good catch by Tom Blundell to give New Zealand a remarkable 1-run win. It was one of the most epic Test matches seen. For his 132 in the 2nd innings, Kane Williamson was named player of the match.
However, they looked down and out after the first innings. After being bowled out for 209 runs in the first innings, Stokes decided to enforce the follow-on. England posted a massive total of 435 for 8 declared thanks to Harry Brooks’s 186 and an unbeaten 153 by Joe Root.
Tom Latham and Devon Conway provided the best start for their side in this series putting on 149 runs for the opening wicket. Kane Williamson showed his class with well made century along with contributions by Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell. It was a superb batting effort by New Zealand in the 2nd innings to post 483 runs.
With this win, New Zealand levelled the series at 1-1. England won the first Test match at Mount Maunganui by 267 runs.
Here is how Twitterati reacted to the win of New Zealand:
Incredible game of cricket .. The greatest format shining once again .. #NZvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 28, 2023
What a match! The intricacies and unpredictability of Test cricket are unmatched. Haven’t watched a Test from 6am for a long time. Today was worth it. Terrific pitch at the Basin. Thank you @BLACKCAPS @ECB_cricket and don’t worry about the health of Test cricket, anyone. #NZvENG
— Jamie Alter 😷 🇮🇳 (@alter_jamie) February 28, 2023
Wow..! what a nail biting finish here, peak test match cricket after a while#ENGvsNZ #NZvsENG
— Chethan (@Chethan20918009) February 28, 2023
And fittingly, Feisty Wagner does the final honours #NZvsENG
— Kanishkaa Balachandran (@kanishkaab) February 28, 2023
No better game in the world than Test cricket. What a finish!!! #NZvENG
— Marnus Labuschagne (@marnus3cricket) February 28, 2023
A strangle down the leg side is the defining moment, Kane Williamson knows the feeling too well!!!
Series drawn, where's the 3rd test? #NZvENG— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) February 28, 2023
Historic moment in Test cricket – Take a bow, Kiwis. pic.twitter.com/i5SuzGoEbY
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 28, 2023
Whooaaa…what an epic Test match. NZ asked to follow-on…went on to win the Test match by 1 run on the fifth day. 👏👏 #NZvEng
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 28, 2023
What a brilliant BRILLIANT game of cricket. One for the ages #NZvENG
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) February 28, 2023
That was insane 🤩
Kiwis win by one run 🏃♂️
Thought we had a 3rd Test tie on the cards there #NZvEng— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) February 28, 2023
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