NZ’s Victory: Watch as NZ secure victory by taking crucial wickets in the 2nd test match against ENG. Watch the full replay and …

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The Impossible Victory: Inside the Dramatic Day 5 Collapse of the NZ vs Eng 2nd Test

Few days of Test cricket history can rival the sheer, unadulterated drama witnessed on the fifth and final day of the second Test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, in February 2023. This match, a spectacular show of resilience and nerve, ended with a margin so small it defies belief, solidifying its place as one of the greatest finishes in the sport’s long history. The coverage on platforms like Prime Video India ensured that cricket fans across the subcontinent were on the edge of their seats for every single, tension-filled delivery.

This was not just a Test match; it was a script-defying narrative of a team, New Zealand, rising from the ashes to deliver only the fourth-ever instance of a team winning a Test after being forced to follow on. England, with their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, had looked certain to seal a comfortable series victory, but a legendary final-day bowling performance had other plans.

The Morning Jitters: England’s Early Stumble

England, chasing a tricky but achievable target of 258, began Day 5 on 48/1, with the goal of scoring the remaining 210 runs. The morning session, however, quickly shattered any complacency. The partnership of pace bowlers Tim Southee and Matt Henry applied relentless pressure, resulting in a shocking early collapse.

The fall of wickets began in the third over of the day when nightwatchman Ollie Robinson was dismissed for two, caught off the bowling of Southee. This opened the door for New Zealand’s attack, and they stormed through it.

• 53/2: Ollie Robinson (c Bracewell b Southee) – The nightwatchman departs early, failing to survive the new day.
• 59/3: Ben Duckett (c Blundell b Henry) – Looking fluent for his 33, Duckett edged one to the keeper, a crucial breakthrough.
• 80/4: Ollie Pope (c Latham b Wagner) – The nervous batter nicked a delivery from the newly introduced Neil Wagner to the slip cordon.
• 80/5: Harry Brook (Run Out) – A catastrophic moment. On the very next delivery, a mix-up resulted in star batter Harry Brook being run out for a duck without facing a ball, leaving England reeling and handing the advantage entirely to the Blackcaps.

The Calm Before the Storm: Root and Stokes Stabilise

With the score at a precarious 80 for 5, the two key figures in England’s middle-order, Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes, stepped up to perform the rescue act. They counter-attacked in the aggressive ‘Bazball’ style, injecting stability back into the chase and silencing the home crowd. They formed a 121-run partnership, with Root particularly fluent, reaching his half-century off just 50 balls. By lunch, England had steadied the ship, needing just 90 more runs to win.

Neil Wagner’s Spell of Destiny: The Final Throes

The afternoon session belonged to the spirited, heart-on-sleeve bowling of Neil Wagner. It was his short-pitched, hostile bowling that broke the back of the English chase in a memorable exhibition of grit and skill.

The dramatic final wickets fell in quick succession, plunging the match into a state of unimaginable tension:

• 201/6: Ben Stokes (c Latham b Wagner) – Wagner dismissed the England captain for 33, caught at mid-wicket, breaking the critical partnership and reigniting New Zealand’s hopes.
• 202/7: Joe Root (c Bracewell b Wagner) – Just nine balls later, Root, on the cusp of a century, mistimed a pull shot off Wagner to depart for a brilliant 95, leaving the tail-enders to score the remaining 56 runs.
• 215/8: Stuart Broad (c Wagner b Henry) – Broad’s brief cameo ended when he skied a pull shot off Matt Henry, which Wagner secured with a safe catch.
• 251/9: Ben Foakes (c Wagner b Southee) – With just 7 runs needed, Ben Foakes, who had been admirably guiding the tail, top-edged an attempted pull off Tim Southee. Wagner, yet again, took the catch at fine leg, leaving England a solitary wicket away from a devastating loss.

The Historic Finale: New Zealand Win by 1 Run

The match boiled down to the final pairing: James Anderson and Jack Leach. With England needing just two runs to win, Neil Wagner bowled the final over of the day. Anderson, on strike, could only glove a short-pitched delivery from Wagner through to the wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

The wicket sealed one of the most incredible finishes in Test cricket history. New Zealand had won the match by a single run, becoming only the second team ever, after the West Indies in 1993, to win a Test match by the narrowest of margins. The stunning victory levelled the series at 1-1 and provided a fitting, dramatic conclusion to an enthralling series, with the key moments and the final wicket being immortalised by Prime Video India’s broadcast.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

What was the final result of the NZ vs Eng 2nd Test match on Day 5?

New Zealand defeated England by one run in a historic finish at the Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Who were the key wicket-takers for New Zealand on Day 5?

The key wicket-takers were Neil Wagner (4 wickets in the innings), who took the final wicket of James Anderson, and captain Tim Southee (3 wickets).

What was Joe Root’s score when he was dismissed on Day 5?

Joe Root was dismissed for 95 runs, caught off the bowling of Neil Wagner, which was a turning point in the final session.

How did New Zealand manage to win the Test after following on?

New Zealand was forced to follow on after falling short of England’s first-innings total. Led by a spectacular century from Kane Williamson in the second innings and a dramatic final-day bowling effort, New Zealand built a small but defendable lead of 258, which proved to be just enough.

Which team was the last to win a Test match by one run before New Zealand?

Before New Zealand’s victory against England in 2023, the only other team to win a Test match by a one-run margin was the West Indies against Australia in 1993.