New Zealand defeated England by an innings and 65 runs on Monday, the fifth day of the first Test match played at the Bay Oval ground here. The New Zealand team, which stopped England for 353 runs in the first innings, declared their first innings for 615 runs at the loss of nine wickets and took a 262-run lead over England, but the visiting team could not take this lead. New Zealand won England by piling on 197 runs in the second innings. The heroes of this New Zealand victory were Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner. Wagner took a total of eight wickets in the match. He took three wickets in the first innings to prevent England from going for a huge score. In this, Tim Southee played the lead role with four wickets.
In the first innings for England, Ben Stokes scored 91, Joe Denley 74, Rory Burns scored 52 runs. Watling led the New Zealand team to their first innings to reach a strong score. Apart from Watling, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls in the upper order troubled the England bowlers a bit. Williamson scored 51 and Nicholls scored 41 runs. After these two, Colin de Grandhom and Watling 119 and then Santner added 261 runs with Watling giving the team a strong lead.
England started the fifth day with 55 runs at the loss of three wickets. Shortly afterwards Captain Joe Root (11) returned to the pavilion. Stokes, who scored a half-century in the first innings, could only score 28 runs in this innings. From here, Wagner again did not let the England lower order stick with his balls. He stood at one end too late, dismissing Joe Denly (35), Ollie Pope (6), Jos Buttler (0), Jofra Archer (30), Stuart Broad (0) and taking the last five wickets to the Kiwi team from the innings. Won. Sam Curran returned unbeaten on 29 runs. Watling was voted man of the match. In addition to Wagner, Santner took three wickets in this innings. Saudi and Grandhomme got one wicket each.
