The sun has set on Baseball. Ben Stokes took the loss as New Zealand sealed a 2-1 series win over England Cricket News:
England’s hopes of ending Ben Stokes’ captaincy on a winning note vanished on the fifth morning at Trent Bridge as New Zealand completed a 160-run victory to win the three-match Test series 2-1.The visitors registered only their fourth Test series win in England, adding to this win in 1986, 1999 and the two-match series win in 2021.England’s hopes rested on Joe Root and Emilio Gay at the start of the day, but both departed in the fourth quarter of the day. Gay edged behind for 10, while Root was run out for 18 on a sharp piece of fielding from Henry Nicholls. Around the ground, boundary boards displayed the message, “Thank you Ben Stokes,” as the England captain watched from the dressing room after being dismissed at 30 on the fourth day in the evening.Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson led New Zealand’s charge with a seventh wicket stand of 75 runs. Atkinson made 19 before Mitchell Santner was trapped lbw before lunch.Smith continued to fight after the interval but his innings ended on 60 when Nathan Smith took a diving catch at long-on off Santner’s bowling. The dismissal effectively ended England’s resistance and sealed victory for the visitors.Nathan Smith ended the series as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets. He was the only member of New Zealand’s pace attack to feature in every match of the series.“It would have been nice to come out with a series win and a win,” Stokes said, “but that’s in a perfect world and this world is definitely not perfect.”Four years ago, on this ground, the Stokes-McCullum partnership began by chasing 299 against New Zealand. That victory became the opening chapter of what the cricket world calls Bazball. It promises fearless cricket, and a team willing to risk defeat in search of victory.On Monday, New Zealand took the series away. The team that was swept 3-0 at the birth of the Baseball season returned to Trent Bridge to close it out with a 2-1 series victory.The defeat also marked England’s first home series loss in three or more Tests since 2012. They have now lost seven of their last nine Test matches, adding to the scrutiny of coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key.
Post Comment