Ish Sodhi survives tense finish to win series for New Zealand
England were thwarted by a brilliant rearguard as they chased a rare overseas Test victory on the final day of the second Test at Christchurch
29/03Result
2nd Test, England tour of Australia and New Zealand at Christchurch, Mar 30 - Apr 3 2018
-
![England]( "England")
307 & 352/9d -
![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
278 & 256/8 (124.4 ov)
Player of the Match
29/03Result
2nd Test, England tour of Australia and New Zealand at Christchurch, Mar 30 - Apr 3 2018
-
![England]( "England")
307 & 352/9d -
![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
278 & 256/8 (124.4 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
Agonising end to a season of crumbs
Having failed to break New Zealand's lower-order resistance, England will leave Christchurch with many of the same questions that were on their minds on arrival in Perth more than five months ago
'The guys want more Test cricket' - Kane Williamson
On the day of a heroic draw, the big number that loomed was that New Zealand have played only four Tests this season, a reality that captain Williamson said was frustrating
Anderson's hard yards set new record
The years of bowling for England's leading Test wicket-taker are reflected in a new landmark
Day 4
NZ start brightly as gloom dents England's victory hopes
England's hopes of ending a long and arduous campaign with their first overseas Test victory in 13 attempts were blunted by an obdurate opening stand before bad light halted play
Seven fifties, no hundreds
Despite his consistency with the bat, Joe Root's Test winter has been marked by a failure to convert any of his fifties into a hundred
'Enough in pitch for us to get the wickets' - Bairstow
However, it could yet be that the elements play a deciding factor with light often fading quickly at the end of the day's play
Day 3
Vince, Stoneman build strong England position
James Vince and Mark Stoneman produced valuable fifties to build on England's hard-earned advantage at Christchurch
Cook's leanest series stirs talk of future
Another cheap dismissal pushing at Trent Boult extended Alastair Cook's run of indifferent form - but it never pays to write off England's leading Test run-scorer
New-ball nirvana: Anderson, Broad, Boult, Southee take all 20 wickets
For just the third time in Test history, the two new-ball bowlers on either side shared the first 20 wickets to fall
Vince, Stoneman and the story of their mixed results
Although they couldn't convert their half-centuries, James Vince and Mark Stoneman have probably done enough to feature in the home Tests against Pakistan
Day 2
De Grandhomme, Watling battle after Broad new-ball blitz
Colin de Grandhomme and BJ Watling fought to keep New Zealand's first innings afloat on the second afternoon at Hagley Oval
De Grandhomme shows new restraint until late lapse
When Kane Williamson edged James Anderson down the leg side, New Zealand were in about as big a hole as they could have been
Full deliveries a reminder of what makes Broad effective
But there was still the feeling he bowled a little too short, especially with the first new ball when Trent Boult and Tim Southee had pitched theirs up with devastating effect
Day 1
Bairstow, Wood turn the tables as Southee's five powers NZ
Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten 97 allowed England to reach the close in credit after another troubling top-order collapse
'Worrying thing is I've got a fifty before a five-for' - Wood
"I get to 20 and I think I'm like Bradman, that's the problem," the fast bowler joked after he staged a significant fightback for England along with Jonny Bairstow on the opening day in Christchurch
Bairstow brilliance papers over England's cracks
England stumbled their way to a passable first-innings total thanks to Jonny Bairstow, but he must surely bat higher if the team is to stop their top-order rot
Others
Moeen, Woakes dropped as England look to save face
While England are desperately trying to salvage a miserable run in Tests, New Zealand are eyeing a clean sweep that will take them closer to displacing Australia as the No. 3 Test team
