Neil Wagner orchestrates phenomenal Kiwi heist

Neil Wagner’s bouncer salvo in the second-session paved the way for New Zealand’s magnificent comeback in Basin Reserve as they became just the third team after England and India to register victory in a Test after following on. It was just the fourth time it happened in 2494 Tests and 146 years of Test cricket, as New Zealand completed a famous one-run victory, only the second such instance in Test history as far as result margin is concerned.

The win handed the hosts series parity, and ensured England didn’t become the first team since 2017 to win a Test series in New Zealand.

Despite losing as many as four wickets in the first hour of the morning session, Joe Root helped England pave the path for a series sweep as well as their seventh successive Test victory – a feat last achieved by England 19 years ago. Wagner however, extended the wait to pull that off as he first bounced out a struggling Ben Stokes and then dismissed Root to expose the tail and leave them to chase the remaining 56 runs, which proved just out of England’s reach.