England vs New Zealand: Trent Boult, batsmen steal the show as Black Caps thump hosts, clinch series
FirstpostSet a target of just 38 after England tail-ender Olly Stone was out to the very first ball of the fourth day, the Blackcaps finished on 41-2. ‘Massively underperformed’ “It hasn’t been our best week, has it?” England captain Joe Root told BBC Radio after his side came into this match missing Ollie Robinson, with the Sussex seamer suspended after a promising on-field Test debut at Lord’s for historic racist and sexist Twitter posts. But it was longstanding new-ball partner Stuart Broad who took the first New Zealand wicket to fall on Sunday when he had Blackcaps player of the series Devon Conway caught behind for three. Matt Henry, one of an extraordinary six changes to the New Zealand side that played at Lord’s, took the first three wickets to fall in a return of 3-36, with Neil Wagner following up with 3-1 Such is the Blackcaps’ strength in depth, however, that either bowler could be replaced by the rested Tim Southee in the WTC final. “We’ve had a strong squad for a while and every time you get the opportunity you want to do your best.” South Africa-born opener Conway was named New Zealand’s player of the series after he followed a remarkable 200 on Test debut at Lord’s with 80 in the first innings of this match.