Blundell’s ton fruitless as England seal series win

Tom Blundell’s scintillating century was not enough for New Zealand as England sealed a series win by wrapping up a 323-run victory inside three days.

England resumed play at Basin Reserve on Sunday on 378-5, with Joe Root on 73.

The tourist’s former captain plundered his way to a 36th Test century, which he brought up with a reverse scoop from Will O’Rourke (1-104), who at least gained a measure of revenge when Root edged through to Blundell in the same over when on 106.

Ben Stokes left himself unbeaten on 49 as he declared with England on 427-6, setting New Zealand a daunting 583 to win.

Stokes’ decision swiftly paid off, with Devon Conway (0), Kane Williamson (four) and Black Caps skipper Tom Latham (24) sent packing within the first 10 overs.

Brydon Carse (2-53) dismissed Rachin Ravindra (six) in the 14th over, bringing Blundell to the crease.

After being dropped when on a duck, Blundell offered resistance, smashing his way to a fifth Test ton in rapid time, though Daryl Mitchell (32) and Glenn Phillips (16) fell around him.

Four of Blundell’s five sixes came from Shoaib Bashir’s bowling, but his stand came to an end when he edged the spinner through to Ben Duckett, who palmed the ball up to take the catch at the second attempt.

That England breakthrough came in the 49th over of New Zealand’s second innings, and it was game over by midway through the 55th, with Stokes rattling through the hosts’ tail to finish with exceptional figures of 3-5, his best in over two years in a Test.

Now 2-0 up in the three-match series, England will aim for a whitewash when the final Test begins in Hamilton next week.

Data Debrief: Root ties for tons

Root has now scored six Test centuries in 2024. No player has ever scored more than six tons for England in one calendar year, with Root himself having previously done so in 2021. Denis Compton – 1947, Michael Vaughan (2002) and Jonny Bairstow (2022) have also struck six hundreds in one year for England.

His efforts helped England claim their biggest win in terms of runs against New Zealand, while this is their first series win in the country since 2008.

The Black Caps, meanwhile, have now lost their last two Tests at Basin Reserve, having previously gone on a seven-match unbeaten run at the venue. It is the first time New Zealand have lost back-to-back matches in the longest format in Wellington since 2010. (Sportmax)