New Zealand beat England by 253 runs to level Test series at 1-1
6 verified3 unconfirmed2 contested
New Zealand defeated England by 253 runs on the final day of the second Test at The Oval, levelling the three-match series at 1-1. The visitors needed just under an hour on the morning of day five to take the five remaining England wickets, with seamer Matt Henry claiming all of them. Henry finished with match figures of 11 wickets, including 6-29 in the second innings, to deliver New Zealand’s biggest Test win by runs on English soil. England resumed on 182-5 chasing a notional target of 463 but lost Joe Root early, followed by the tail. The home side were playing without captain Ben Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who were absent pending an investigation into a breach of curfew after the first Test. The decider will be played at Trent Bridge starting June 25.
What’s verified
New Zealand won the second Test by 253 runs, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.
Matt Henry took a match haul of 11 wickets, including 6-29 in England’s second innings.
England were bowled out for 209 in their second innings, losing their last five wickets in under an hour on day five.
Joe Root was dismissed for a score reported as either 76 or 77 to spark the collapse.
England captain Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson were absent from this Test due to an investigation into a curfew breach.
The third and deciding Test will be held at Trent Bridge from June 25 to 29.
Where accounts differ
The time taken for England to lose their last five wickets: one source states 40 minutes, while another states 49 minutes.
Joe Root’s individual score: one source’s scorecard lists 76, while the article text in the same source and another source state 77.
Not yet confirmed
The final outcome of the investigation into Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson. One source notes a decision is due; another states they are expected to return for the third Test.
The specific details of the incident involving Stokes and Atkinson. One source mentions a security staff member was struck by a rugby player, but no other source provides this detail.
England fielded three debutants in the match, but only one source names them as Jordan Cox, James Rew, and Sonny Baker.
Key figures
Matt Henry (New Zealand seamer), Joe Root (England batter), Ben Stokes (England captain, absent), Gus Atkinson (England seamer, absent), Brendon McCullum (England head coach), Rob Key (England director of cricket), Tom Blundell (New Zealand wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls (New Zealand batter), Glenn Phillips (New Zealand batter), Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand bowler), Will O’Rourke (New Zealand bowler), Jofra Archer (England bowler), Matthew Fisher (England bowler), Josh Tongue (England bowler), Jordan Cox (England batter).
Sources: BBC News, Sky Sports
