England have blazed to an eight-wicket victory in the first cricket Test match against New Zealand, knocking off their 104-run target in just 12.4 overs of their second innings.
After bowling out New Zealand for 254 in Christchurch on Sunday, debutant Jacob Bethell scored the winning run to reach a maiden Test fifty off 37 deliveries with eight fours and a six on day four of the match. Joe Root was not out 23 off 15 balls at the other end.
“Very happy with the way we performed throughout the week,” England captain Ben Stokes said after his side took a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
“Our bowlers were relentless throughout.”
New Zealand resumed on 155-6 in their second innings, a lead of four runs, and frustrated England for more than two hours to reach 254, a lead of 103.
Daryl Mitchell, 31 overnight, scored a defiant 84 and put on a stubborn 13-over partnership for the last wicket worth 45 runs with Will O’Rourke (five not out).
England’s Brydon Carse took six second-innings wickets to finish with 10 in a Test for the first time.
The 104-run target was never going to be enough to stop England, who sealed the Test midway through the afternoon session.
They lost Zak Crawley in the second over, caught and bowled by Matt Henry for one, and Ben Duckett caught by Henry off O’Rourke for a rapid 27 off 18 balls before Bethell and Root took over.
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