Dominant New Zealand bundled out England on Day 5 in Mount Maunganui for just 197 to finish with an innings and 65-run win in the first Test, having early posted an insurmountable 615/9 (declared) in response to the visitors' first innings total of 353.
The Kiwis, being put in the position to force the victory after memorable knocks from BJ Watling (205), Mitchell Santner (126) and even Colin de Grandhomme (65) when the team once found itself 144/4 on Day 2, reached there eventually through a resurgent and inspired bowling performance in the second innings.
WATCH – Ross Taylor grabs a one-handed stunner to get rid of Ben Stokes
Left-arm seamer Neil Wagner scalped 5/44 while Santner accounted himself for a very fine 3/53.
Not one England batsmen going and played the innings most teams need when they are looking to salvage a draw. Only Rory Burns (31) and Joe Denly (35) went past the 30-run mark as the Joe Root-led side suffered yet another Test match defeat away from home.
Even in the first innings, Joe Denly (75) and Ben Stokes (91) got half-centuries but not the big scores the team needed while the rest struggled.
What shall worry the three lions also is their bowling attack as it failed to generate any movement off the benign deck seen at the Bay Oval.
The likes of Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad couldn't get anything out of the surface beyond the new ball and failed to live upto their reputations.
Brief Scores:
England 353 (Ben Stokes 91; Tim Southee 4/88) & 197 (Joe Denly 35; Neil Wagner 5/44) lost to New Zealand 615/9 declared (BJ Watling 205; Sam Curran 3/119) by an innings and 65 runs.
