LONDON (AP) — New Zealand had to beat England at The Oval.Not just to square their series, but because England made itself an easier picking.To the team that won at Lord’s, England made an off-the-wall five changes, four of them enforced by nightclub antics, injury and paternity. Three players debuted, two others had one cap each, and Joe Root stepped up as the stopgap captain. Root had more than half the team’s caps and was suddenly the leading active wicket-taker.England did everything but gift a rare seventh win to New Zealand in 95 years on home turf and the Black Caps went and grabbed it in style. It came to fruition on Sunday in the first 48 minutes of the fifth and final day when fast bowler Matt Henry cleaned up the last five wickets in 31 balls of a metronomic masterclass.England collapsed from 182-5 overnight to all out for 209 and New Zealand won by 253 runs, its largest victory in England by runs. That set up a series decider in Nottingham starting Thursday.
“I didn’t expect it to unfold like that today but probably saved a hot day in the field,” Henry said after leading New Zealand off the field, match ball raised high.
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His 6-29 beside 5-80 in the first innings gave him 11-109, best-ever figures by a New Zealand bowler against England and his first 10-wicket match haul in 35 tests.He completed a magnificent team effort.Glenn Phillips withstood body blows from a venomous Jofra Archer on the first evening then reached his maiden test hundred — and the series’ first century — with Kyle Jamieson the next morning while Archer rested from the previous night’s exertions.
