Black Caps spin their way to 2nd Test win

New Zealand off-spinners Kane Williamson and Mark Craig have shared six wickets as the Black Caps thrashed England by 199 runs in the second Test at Headingley.

Tuesday’s victory ensured the two-match series ended all square at 1-1 and was just New Zealand’s ninth win in 101 Tests against England.

It meant too they had won a Test in England for only the fifth time, with this victory their first Test success on English soil since an 83-run triumph at The Oval in 1999.

England, who resumed on 0-44 and were chasing what would have been a Test fourth innings record victory total of 455, were bowled out for 255.

Williamson, primarily a batsman and once suspended from bowling in international cricket because of a suspect action, took 3-15, including the prize scalp of England captain Alastair Cook (56).

Craig finished with 3-73 in 31.5 overs and ended the match when he had Jos Buttler lbw playing no stroke for 73.

Cook and Buttler apart, England offered little in the way of resistance in their second innings.

England, after a rain-marred fourth day, resumed with Adam Lyth 24 not out and Cook 18 not out.

Lyth fell for his overnight score when he was caught behind fending at a Trent Boult away-swinger, before left-arm paceman Boult then bowled Gary Ballance for six with a superb, near yorker-length, inswinger.

Craig then struck twice in three balls to reduce England to 4-62.

Ian Bell, who has managed just 55 runs in his past eight Test innings, had made just one when he turned Craig straight to leg-slip Williamson.

Joe Root had promised England would “come out all guns blazing” but he lasted just two balls before exiting for a duck when he turned Craig off the face of the bat only for Tom Latham to cling on to a sharp chance.

But Cook was still there and he went on to complete his second fifty of the match, having become England’s highest run scorer in Tests during his first innings 75.

His near four hours’ of resistance ended when Cook was given out lbw as he pushed forward to Williamson.

Williamson, who had Ben Stokes caught behind on the stroke of lunch, had now taken 2-2 in 11 balls.

Moeen Ali (2) was bowled while offering no stroke to fast bowler Matt Henry.

At tea, England were 8-206 and needing to survive a minimum of 35 overs to hold out for a draw following their 124-run win in the first Test at Lord’s last week.

New Zealand had the advantage of the new ball four overs into the final session.

Wood’s 40-minute innings of 17 ended when he edged Tim Southee to Craig in the slips before Buttler’s error ended the match.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!