1st Test
Day-4 Highlights:
England has taken a 1-0 lead after Brydon Carse records career-best Test figures
England scored 499 (1st Innings) and 104/2 (2nd Innings), where as New Zealand scored 348 (1st Innings) and 254 (2nd Innings).
So, finally England beat New Zealand by 8 wickets.
Brydon Carse claimed a career-best 6-42 to set up England’s convincing 8-wicket victory and a 1-0 series lead in Christchurch on Day 4 of the first Test.
Carse disrupted New Zealand’s positive start with the bat in the morning session, helping dismiss the hosts for 254 in their second innings, taking three of the four wickets that fell.
Matt Henry struck early to dismiss England’s opener, but Jacob Bethell’s quick-fire half-century ensured the chase remained smooth and England faced little trouble in reaching the modest target.
Starting the day at 155 for 6, New Zealand came out with positive intent, scoring nearly five runs per over before Carse struck twice in quick succession, removing Nathan Smith and Henry in the same over to complete his five-wicket haul.
Tim Southee’s 12 runs, all in sixes, came in a brief 13-ball stay, but Gus Atkinson quickly dismissed the threat.
William O’Rourke supported Daryl Mitchell for the next 13 overs, with Mitchell doing most of the scoring in their 45-run partnership for the last wicket.
O’Rourke played a supporting role as New Zealand posted a respectable 254, setting England a target of 104.
Carse wrapped up the innings by claiming his first Test six-wicket haul, dismissing O’Rourke in an extended morning session.
After lunch, Ben Duckett was beaten a couple of times by Southee, but it was Henry who struck at the other end, dismissing Zak Crawley cheaply.
Duckett then hit Southee for back-to-back fours, signaling England’s intent to chase quickly.
The next over from Southee went for 16 runs, including a top-edge six.
New Zealand made a bowling change, bringing in debutant Nathan Smith to replace Southee, but it was Bethell who dominated, hitting four boundaries in Smith’s opening over to take England past 50 in the seventh over.
O’Rourke briefly pulled things back when he dismissed Duckett, but the relief was short-lived as Joe Root responded with three consecutive fours to keep the pressure on.
Root took England into the 90s with his first six, and Bethell followed suit with one of his own before finishing the game with the winning runs.
Bethell’s 37-ball half-century ensured England completed the chase in less than 13 overs, securing the 8-wicket victory.
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