New Zealand beat England in 3rd test & win series 2-1

 


New Zealand completed a memorable 160-run victory over England in the third Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, to clinch the three-match series 2-1. The triumph marked New Zealand's first Test series win in England since 2021 and only their fourth overall on English soil. England, set a challenging target of 373, were bowled out for 212 on the final morning despite a few spirited efforts. 


Day 4: Mitchell's century sets up a daunting chase

The fourth day belonged largely to New Zealand, who resumed their second innings with a healthy lead and steadily tightened their grip on the match. The backbone of their innings was a magnificent unbeaten century from Daryl Mitchell. Mitchell displayed immense patience and determination, guiding the visitors through the middle order while England searched desperately for breakthroughs. His century, combined with valuable support from the lower order, helped New Zealand declare at 288/9 and set England a formidable target of 373. 


England's chase began dramatically with retiring captain Ben Stokes promoting himself to open the batting in what was his final Test match. Stokes entertained the Trent Bridge crowd with a brisk 30 from just 20 balls, striking aggressively before falling. By stumps England had slipped to 103/4 with Duckett (36) & Brook ($, still needing 270 runs on the final day, with New Zealand firmly in command. 


Day 5: New Zealand finish the job

England resumed the final morning at 103/4 with hopes resting on experienced batters. However, New Zealand struck early when Emilio Gay was caught behind off Nathan Smith. A crucial moment followed when Joe Root was run out after sharp fielding from Henry Nicholls, leaving England's chase in serious trouble. 


The only substantial resistance came from wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who played an impressive counterattacking innings of 60. Smith and Gus Atkinson added a valuable 75-run partnership for the seventh wicket, briefly frustrating the visitors and raising faint hopes of an unlikely escape. 


New Zealand's bowlers, however, remained disciplined. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner delivered the decisive blows, removing Atkinson for 19 and later dismissing Smith to break England's resistance. Nathan Smith and the supporting seamers maintained relentless pressure as wickets continued to tumble. England were eventually dismissed for 212, handing New Zealand a comprehensive 160-run victory. 


Key Performers

Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)

The standout performer of the closing stages, Mitchell's unbeaten century in the second innings transformed a strong position into a match-winning one and earned him widespread praise. 


Mitchell Santner (New Zealand)

Santner produced crucial wickets on the final day, including the prized scalp of Jamie Smith, ensuring England never mounted a serious comeback. 


Jamie Smith (England)

Smith fought admirably with a well-made 60 and shared a 75-run stand with Gus Atkinson, but lacked sufficient support from the rest of the batting lineup. 


Ben Stokes (England)

In his farewell Test, Stokes provided one final glimpse of his attacking brilliance with a rapid 30 at the top of the order, though he could not prevent defeat. 


Match Summary

New Zealand 438 & 288/9 declared

England 354 & 212

New Zealand won by 160 runs

New Zealand won the series 2-1 


The victory capped an outstanding series for New Zealand, while England's defeat also marked the end of the Ben Stokes era, closing a significant chapter in English cricket history. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Desserts : Kosar Laddu - How to make this Indian festive sweet item

Image
  Kosar Laddu is a traditional homemade sweet that stands out for its simplicity and rich, rustic flavour. Made with rice flour, jaggery, ghee and aromatic fennel, this laddu is soft, mildly sweet and perfect for festive occasions or as a comforting treat with tea. Ingredients : 1 cup rice flour ½ cup jaggery ½ cup ghee A pinch of salt 1 teaspoon fennel seed powder 1 cup milk Method : First, sift the rice flour thoroughly and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Add the ghee, salt and fennel seed powder, and mix well. Gradually add milk as required and knead to form a smooth dough. Ensure that the dough is neither too soft nor too stiff. Once the dough is ready, grease your palms lightly with ghee. Take small portions of the dough and shape them into round laddus, just as you would make traditional laddus by hand. Your Kosar Laddus are now ready to be served.
Read more

Indian Temples - Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, Tiruchanur (Andhra Pradesh)- Highlights

Image
  Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, located at Tiruchanur near Tirupati, is one of the most revered Shakti temples in South India. Dedicated to Goddess Padmavathi, the divine consort of Lord Venkateswara, this temple is an essential part of the Tirumala–Tirupati pilgrimage. Devotees traditionally visit Tiruchanur before or after darshan at Tirumala, considering the pilgrimage incomplete without seeking the Goddess’s blessings. History (in Detail) The origins of the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple are deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and ancient scriptures. According to legend: Goddess Padmavathi, an incarnation of Mahalakshmi, emerged from a golden lotus (Padma) in a lotus pond (Padma Sarovaram) at Tiruchanur. She was discovered and nurtured by Akasaraja, the ruler of the region. Later, Lord Venkateswara married Padmavathi Devi, symbolizing prosperity, harmony, and divine union. Historically, the temple finds references in Puranas, Vaishnava texts, and inscriptions from the Pallava, C...
Read more

Indian Temples : Thousand Pillar Temple, Warangal (Telangana)- Highlights

Image
  The Thousand Pillar Temple, located in Hanamakonda, Warangal, is one of the finest examples of Kakatiya architecture and a masterpiece of medieval South Indian temple design. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Surya, this historic shrine stands as a symbol of the artistic brilliance and religious harmony of the Kakatiya dynasty. Recognized as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple is an architectural and spiritual landmark of Telangana. History (in Detail) The Thousand Pillar Temple was built in 1163 CE by Rudra Deva, the first prominent ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty. During this period, Warangal emerged as a major political, cultural, and religious center in the Deccan. Key historical points: The temple was constructed during the golden age of the Kakatiyas It was originally known as Rudreshwara Temple, named after King Rudra Deva The structure suffered damage during later invasions, particularly in the 14th century when the Delh...
Read more