Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

James Anderson puts seal on England's crushing 267-run victory over New Zealand

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Saturday, 18 February 2023 19:24

England 325 for 9 dec (Brook 89, Duckett 84, Wagner 4-82) and 374 (Root 57, Brook 54, Foakes 51, Tickner 3-55) beat New Zealand 306 (Blundell 138, Conway 77, Robinson 4-54) and 126 (Mitchell 57*, Anderson 4-18, Broad 4-49) by 267 runs

James Anderson provided the fourth-day mop-up after Stuart Broad's third-evening blitz, as England put the seal on a crushing 267-run victory in the first Test at Mount Maunganui. Though Daryl Mitchell saved some face for New Zealand with a fighting half-century, victory was sealed with 15 minutes remaining of the first session.

Anderson's surging burst of 4 for 18 in 7.3 overs dovetailed with Broad's overnight 4 for 21, to provide a fitting denouement to a match of many milestones for the veteran seam pairing - 15 years and now 1009 wickets after their partnership was launched in this very country on England's 2008 tour.

Those first two matches together, at Wellington and Napier in 2008, also happened to be England's last two victories in New Zealand. But after this latest display of poise and dominance, Ben Stokes' men can head back to the Basin Reserve next week with their sights set on another series victory, having now won 10 of their 11 Tests since the start of his tenure last June, and claimed ten wickets in every one of their 21 fielding stints in that period.

Despite Broad's heroics on the third evening, Stokes opted to turn to the spin of Jack Leach for the day's first over, and it took just three balls of his second for Leach to make the first dent in New Zealand's remaining resistance. Faced with a hint of turn into the body from over the wicket, the left-handed Michael Bracewell flicked limply off his pads for Harry Brook to pocket the simplest of chances at short midwicket.

Nine balls later, the match was as good as over, thanks to an Anderson double-whammy. First in his sights was the debutant Scott Kuggeleijn, a nuggetty presence in the first innings, but a deer in the headlights second time out, as Anderson pinned him on the knee-roll with an inch-perfect nipbacker to claim his 250th wicket in overseas Tests.

One ball later, Tim Southee was gone as well - caught on the crease as Anderson dragged his length back, and opening the face on impact to offer catching practice to Joe Root at first slip. That dismissal will have provided Anderson with an additional measure of satisfaction, for it took his average in overseas Tests below 30, a further debunking of the long-disproved notion that he loses his impact when removed from English conditions.

Mitchell, New Zealand's form player from last summer's tour of England, did his best to shore up his side, and the second of his two straight sixes off Leach at least guided them past the ignominy of a double-figure total - a fate that befell England in their last pink-ball Test in this country, at Auckland in 2017-18.

By then, however, Anderson had claimed his third and New Zealand's ninth wicket. Neil Wagner hung around with some determination for 22 balls, including a flamboyant slap for four, but when Anderson pitched it up shortly after he could only snick a high edge into the cordon, where Ben Foakes leapt to his left to grab. That wicket also meant that, after 178 Tests and for the first time since his debut series against Zimbabwe, 20 long years ago, Anderson's overall average had dropped below 26.

Broad duly returned with a five-for up for grabs, but neither Mitchell nor Blair Tickner, fresh from his tail-end heroics in the first innings, was ready to go down without a fight. Mitchell duly launched Broad through midwicket to reach his fifty from 94 balls, while at the other end, the debutant Tickner hung around for 8 from 29, adding another tenth-wicket stand of 35 to the 59 he had contributed with Tom Blundell in the first innings. Anderson, however, returned for another burst in the second hour, and fired a match-winning inswinger through his defences.

Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket

Read 145 times

Soccer

Messi proves difference-maker to power Miami past Red Bulls

Messi proves difference-maker to power Miami past Red Bulls

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- No one inside Chase Stadium on Saturday night could have p...

Messi sets 2 more MLS records in 6-2 Miami win

Messi sets 2 more MLS records in 6-2 Miami win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLionel Messi set the Major League Soccer record for most goal contr...

European soccer review: Real Madrid clinch LaLiga, Stuttgart thump Bayern, Arsenal and Man City win

European soccer review: Real Madrid clinch LaLiga, Stuttgart thump Bayern, Arsenal and Man City win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhat a Saturday across European soccer! Real Madrid took down Cádiz...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Edwards outduels Jokic: Wolves 'know who we are'

Edwards outduels Jokic: Wolves 'know who we are'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- If you asked another young star what it felt like to go i...

Former Laker Morris dies at 33, family announces

Former Laker Morris dies at 33, family announces

EmailPrintFormer Michigan standout and Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Darius Morris has died at 33, h...

Baseball

Arraez a big hit in Padres debut, goes 4-for-6

Arraez a big hit in Padres debut, goes 4-for-6

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- Luis Arraez had four hits and an RBI in his first game a...

Judge: First ejection of career 'very surprising'

Judge: First ejection of career 'very surprising'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge has accomplished plenty during his nine-yea...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated