England powered to a collection win over New Zealand with an emphatic 323-run victory inside three days of the second Check in Wellington.
After setting the house facet a mammoth 583, England battled excessive winds, the specter of showers and Tom Blundell’s swashbuckling 115.
Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse decreased New Zealand to 59-4 earlier than Blundell lit up a gray day along with his assault on off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.
The wicketkeeper hit Bashir for 4 sixes till his tried sweep on the similar bowler was brilliantly caught by the quick-thinking Ben Duckett working round from slip.
Ben Stokes ran by way of the tail for 3-5, his finest Check figures in additional than two years, to go away New Zealand 259 all out.
The margin of victory is England’s largest by way of runs towards New Zealand. It provides Stokes’ facet their first away collection win in two years and their first victory on this nation since 2008.
England already had this match of their grasp on Sunday, once they resumed on 378-5 of their second innings and a lead of 533.
Joe Root, 73 not out in a single day, accomplished his thirty sixth Check century with a trademark reverse-scoop off tempo bowler Will O’Rourke.
Root was out for 106 in the identical over, prompting England to declare on 427-6. Stokes left himself unbeaten on 49.
One minor concern for England is the health of Harry Brook, who didn’t take the sphere on Sunday as a precaution over a sore ankle.
England can have the chance for a clear sweep within the third Check in Hamilton on Saturday (22:00 GMT Friday).
