New Zealander Matt Henry (Ben Whitley/PA via AP)
NEW DELHI: New Zealand produced a blistering display to defeat England by 253 runs in the second Test at The Oval on Sunday, leveling the series and setting up a decider in Nottingham from Thursday.After suffering a heavy defeat in the opening Test at Lord’s, the visitors responded in emphatic fashion to level the series at 1-1.
England resumed the fifth and final day on 182-5, needing an unexpected 463 runs to secure victory, but their hopes were dashed within 48 minutes as they were bowled out for 209.Fast bowler Matt Henry was the main architect of New Zealand’s victory, producing a brilliant display to claim a ten-wicket haul in the match. The right-arm pacer showed a high degree of accuracy and discipline, finishing with figures of 6 for 29 in the second innings.Henry was virtually unplayable on the final morning, taking five wickets while conceding just three runs in a devastating spell that lasted 5.1 overs. His efforts followed an equally impressive performance in the first innings, where he took 5-80.
The combined haul gave Henry’s match figures of 11 to 109, the best ever scored by a New Zealand bowler against England in Test cricket.
The feat also marked the first 10-wicket match of his Test career, achieved in his 35th appearance in the format.New Zealand’s convincing victory ensured the series would survive after England’s dominant performance in the first Test. With both sides recording comprehensive victories, attention now turns to Nottingham, where the third and final Test promises to be a winner-takes-all affair as both teams battle it out for the series titles.