- New Zealand beat England by 160 runs in the third Test.
- Defeat marks England’s seventh defeat in nine Tests.
- New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell named player of the match.
An injury-hit New Zealand overwhelmed England by 160 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Monday as Ben Stokes’ final match in international cricket ended in a crushing defeat.
Victory meant New Zealand won a three-match campaign 2-1 – just their fourth series success in England in 20 attempts and only the second time they had won from 1-0 down following their success in England in 1999.
This was also England’s seventh defeat in nine Tests and a first series loss at home in three or more Tests since 2012.
The Test was overtaken by England captain Stokes, who dramatically announced his retirement from international duty on Sunday.
The 35-year-old all-rounder said he felt “burnt out” after four years as England captain, although Stokes added he would continue to play for county side Durham.
His decision came after he had returned to England after being left out of a crushing 253-run defeat in the second Test, having broken a midnight curfew following the hosts’ series-opening win.
‘Emotions’
“It would have been great to go out with a series win, that’s in a perfect world,” Stokes told the BBC. “But I am very happy with what I have managed to achieve as a player and captain.
“There’s quite a bit of emotion knowing you’re not going to do this anymore.”
New Zealand’s victory was just reward for their professional application, the Black Caps outperforming England in every department in Nottingham.
Their approach was summed up by Daryl Mitchell, named player of the match, for a gutsy second-innings 100 not out, in which he was repeatedly hit with painful blows by England’s pace attack.
“This is very special for our group,” Mitchell said. “We came out with the goal of winning the series. It’s really cool.”
Stokes opened England’s chase, although he is usually a middle-order batsman, with the hosts setting a tough target of 373 to win.
He blasted his way to 30 off 20 balls, including two sixes, before striking out and his exit meant he had no role on the field on Monday, his final day of international cricket.
England had dramatically chased down a target of 299 to beat New Zealand at Trent Bridge four years ago, right at the start of the team’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ era under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, with Jonny Bairstow scoring a blistering century.
But the current New Zealand attack held its nerve, with England losing three more wickets before Sunday’s close to being in dire straits at 103-4.
And they were in even worse trouble at 116-6 after losing two wickets in five balls early in Monday’s game.
Nathan Smith had Emilio Gay caught behind for 10 and then Joe Root, one of England’s greatest batsmen, was superbly run out for 18 by Henry Nicholls’ brilliant direct hit from behind.
New Zealand lost a bowler just 35 minutes into Monday’s game when Will O’Rourke picked up a hamstring injury.
Gus Atkinson, also back after breaking the curfew along with Stokes, and Jamie Smith kept New Zealand at bay with a stand of 75 before Atkinson was lbw for 19 to left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.
Jamie Smith made his fifty when he smashed Santner for four after lunch.
But another superb direct hit run-out did for tailender Josh Tongue, with Santner on target this time, before Jamie Smith (60) was caught in the deep by Nathan Smith to secure a well-deserved success for the Black Caps.
“We’ve put a lot of work into our fielding, the two run-outs today showed guys are committed and showing everything they’ve got,” Mitchell said.
This match was a triumph for several New Zealand players, with captain Tom Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157) sharing an opening stand of 317 in a first innings total of 438.
New Zealand came into this match without injured paceman Matt Henry, their 11-wicket hero at the Oval, and in-form quick Kyle Jamieson, rested as a precaution.
And in Nottingham, Blair Tickner could only manage three overs before retiring with concussion when he was hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer as he batted.
But Zak Foulkes, New Zealand’s first concussion substitute, performed superbly and took six wickets in the match.
