Prior's heroics, and New Zealand's maiden overs

Stats highlights from an utterly compelling Test match in Auckland

26-Mar-2013

Matt Prior sends one through the off side, New Zealand v England, 3rd Test, Auckland, 3rd day, March 24, 2013

This is the 21st time a Test match has been drawn with a team being nine wickets down in the fourth innings, and the sixth such instance for England, who have been involved in three of the last four nine-wicket draws in the fourth innings. They had two such draws on the tour to South Africa in 2009-10.

New Zealand have been denied a victory by the last wicket in the fourth innings for the second time in their Test history. The only other instance was at the MCG in 1987, when Australia - set a target of 247 for victory - finished on 230 for 9, with Craig McDermott and Mike Whitney holding on for the draw.

Matt Prior became only the fifth wicketkeeper to score a century in the fourth innings of a Test. The others to achieve the feat are Mushfiqur Rahim (against India in Chittagong in 2010), Adam Gilchrist (against Pakistan in Hobart in 1999), Moin Khan (against Sri Lanka in Sialkot in 1995), and Alan Knott (against Australia in Adelaide in 1975). Only two of the five have been in wins or draws; Gilchrist's memorable 149 not out led to a four-wicket win for Australia against Pakistan in Hobart.

Prior's series aggregate of 311 is his second-highest, next to the 324 he scored in four Tests against West Indies in the home series in 2007. Among wicketkeeper-batsmen who've scored at least 3500 runs, Prior's average of 45.46 is the third-best, after Andy Flower and Gilchrist.

New Zealand bowled 53 maiden overs in England's fourth innings, which is the 17th time a team has bowled 50 or more maidens in an innings since 2000. New Zealand have accounted for eight of those 17 instances, including four of the last six. This is also the seventh time New Zealand have bowled more than 50 maidens against England; their highest against England is 96, in Auckland in 1984.

England survived 143 overs, which is their second-highest in the fourth innings of a Test against New Zealand. The highest is 146.4, in Christchurch in 1997, when England chased down a target of 305 with four wickets in hand.

This is the fourth time a series of more than two Tests between these two teams has ended 0-0. Three of those four instances have been in New Zealand - in 1966, 1988, and this series.

Kane Williamson's 4 for 44 is easily his best figures in Tests. Before this effort, he had never taken more than two wickets in an innings.

Kane Williamson Matt Prior New Zealand England New Zealand vs England England tour of New Zealand

S Rajesh is stats editor of ESPNcricinfo. Follow him on Twitter