Stokes Attributes England's 'Dominant Approach' to Historic Test Series Victory in New Zealand
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Wellington, Dec 8 (NationPress) England's captain Ben Stokes has attributed their assertive approach to cricket for clinching the first Test series victory in New Zealand since 2008, following a resounding 323-run win in the second Test at the Basin Reserve on Sunday.
With this victory, England has established an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series against New Zealand, ahead of the concluding Test in Hamilton.
Despite Tom Blundell's commendable century (115 off 102), England's bowlers dominated Day 3, as the home team struggled in their chase. Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes dismantled their top-order, sending Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, and Rachin Ravindra back to the pavilion with single-digit scores.
Blundell, alongside Nathan Smith, built a 96-run partnership for the seventh wicket, however, England's bowling strength proved too formidable, bowling out the Kiwis for 259 runs. England's captain Ben Stokes led the charge with an impressive 3-5, supported by two wickets each from Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Shoaib Bashir, sealing their victory and advancing to a 2-0 series lead.
England resumed Day 3 at 378/5 and continued where they left off. Joe Root reached his 36th Test century before being dismissed for 106, which marked the end of England's innings as Stokes declared, setting a daunting 583-run target for New Zealand.
The England captain also contributed with a stunning cameo, remaining unbeaten on 49. Earlier, Jacob Bethell (96), Ben Duckett (92), and Harry Brook (55) added stylish half-centuries, propelling England to 427/6.
"To play the more dominant cricket over the days we have played so far," Stokes remarked when asked about achieving this first away win in New Zealand in 16 years. "In this Test, on day one, we were 43 for 4, and to be on the winning side by day three is quite remarkable. We were bowled out in 54.5 overs but managed to post 270 runs, which was a solid score on that day. We also had time left with the ball to make significant inroads. Scoring 270 and taking five wickets at the end of day one (New Zealand closed on 86 for 5) really set the foundation for this game.
"We have confidence in our ability to change games, and we believe in injecting some momentum into the game, especially with the bat," he added.
Stokes praised Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, and Jacob Bethell during the post-match press conference, noting how the batters left a lasting impression on the match after England found themselves at 40/4 on day one, with Brook scoring a pivotal 123.
"It’s incredible to be celebrating a series win after being 40 for 4 on day one. The performances of Harry Brook and Ollie Pope on that day laid the groundwork for our success. Jacob Bethell has definitely showcased his talent and proven his worth on the international stage," Stokes stated.
The final Test is scheduled to take place at Seddon Park in Hamilton, starting December 14.
