- New Zealand beat England by 160 runs in the third Test.
- The defeat marks England’s seventh defeat in nine Tests.
- New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell was 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’ last match in international cricket ended in a resounding defeat.
The victory meant New Zealand won a three-match campaign 2-1 – just their fourth series win in England in 20 attempts and only the second time they have triumphed after being 1-0 down following their success in England in 1999.
This was also England’s seventh defeat in nine Tests and first home series defeat in three or more Tests since 2012.
The test was overshadowed by England captain Stokes’ dramatic announcement of his retirement from international duty on Sunday.
The 35-year-old all-rounder said he felt “exhausted” after four years as England captain, although Stokes added he would continue playing for the Durham County team.
His decision came after he returned to action for England after being ruled out of a crushing 253-run defeat in the second Test, having broken a midnight curfew following the hosts’ victory in the series opener.
‘Emotions’
“It would have been fantastic to come out with a series win, that’s a perfect world,” Stokes told the BBC. “But I am very happy with what I have achieved as a player and captain.
“There are quite a few emotions knowing that you’re not going to do this anymore.”
New Zealand’s victory was just reward for their professional performance – the Black Caps outperformed England in every department in Nottingham.
His approach was summed up by Daryl Mitchell, named player of the match, during a brave second innings of 100 not out, where he took repeated painful blows from England’s pace attack.
“This is very special for our group,” Mitchell said. “We came with the goal of winning the series. It’s really cool.”
Stokes opened the England charge despite normally being a middle-order batsman, and the hosts set themselves a strict target of 373 to win.
He made his way to 30 off 20 balls, including two sixes, before holing out, and his exit meant he had no role on the field on Monday, his final day in international cricket.
England had dramatically chased down a target of 299 to beat New Zealand at Trent Bridge four years ago, just at the start of the team’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ era under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum with Jonny Bairstow scoring a blistering century.
But New Zealand’s current attack kept them firm, with England losing three more wickets before the close on Sunday to be left in dire straits at 103-4.
And they were in even worse trouble at 116-6 after losing two wickets in five balls at the start of Monday’s game.
Nathan Smith had Emilio Gay trapped behind for 10 and then Joe Root, one of England’s best batsmen, was superbly bowled out for 18 by Henry Nicholls’ brilliant straight hit from behind.
New Zealand lost a bowler just 35 minutes into Monday’s game when Will O’Rourke suffered a hamstring injury.
Gus Atkinson, also back after breaking curfew alongside Stokes, and Jamie Smith kept New Zealand at bay for a stand of 75 before Atkinson was lbw for 19 to left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.
Jamie Smith reached fifty when he hit Santner for four after lunch.
But another excellent direct hit was enough for Josh Tongue, with Santner on target this time, before Nathan Smith trapped Jamie Smith (60) in the deep to seal a well-deserved success for the Black Caps.
“We worked a lot on our fielding, the two outings today showed that the guys are committed and showing everything they have,” 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 for a total of 438 in the first innings.
New Zealand came into this match without injured pacer Matt Henry, their 11-wicket hero at the Oval, and the in-form pacer Kyle Jamieson, who was rested as a physical precaution.
And at Nottingham, Blair Tickner could only manage three overs before retiring with a concussion suffered when he was hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer while batting.
But Zak Foulkes, New Zealand’s first concussion substitute, put in a magnificent performance to take six wickets in the match.
