06/29/26 09:03:00
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06/29 09:01 CDT New Zealand clinches test series win against England to spoil
Ben Stokes farewell
New Zealand clinches test series win against England to spoil Ben Stokes
farewell
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) --- New Zealand won a test series in England for the
fourth time by wrapping up a 160-run victory in the third test at Trent Bridge
on Monday, bringing an end to the international career of home captain Ben
Stokes.
Resuming on 103-4 and chasing an unlikely 373 to win, England was dismissed for
212 soon after lunch on Day 5 as New Zealand clinched the series 2-1.
The New Zealanders' other series wins on English soil were in 1986, 1999 and in
2021 --- the latter being in a two-match series.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham, whose knock of 151 in a first-innings opening
partnership of 317 with Devon Conway set up the victory, described the series
win as "really special."
"To come out and play our style and stick to our brand as best we can, to me
that's the most pleasing thing," Latham said.
Stokes announced on Sunday he would be stepping down as England captain after
four years after this test, and also retiring from the international game after
15 years with the national team. He didn't have an active role on Day 5 since
he was dismissed for 30 late Sunday after opening the batting.
"It would have been great to have gone out with a series win and a win," Stokes
said, "but that's in a perfect world and this world certainly isn't perfect."
It was England's first defeat in a home series of three or more tests since
2012. The team has lost seven of its last nine test matches, a streak that
piles the pressure on the leadership team of coach Brendon McCullum and
director cricket Rob Key.
McCullum said he intended to stay in his role.
"There was some good stuff and I still believe that we have a firm direction of
what we're wanting to do and how we're wanting to play, and what we're wanting
to achieve," he said.
England's final-day hopes realistically rested on Joe Root and Emilio Gay ---
the remaining specialist batters who resumed from overnight --- but they both
departed in the fourth over, having walked to the middle with the boundary
boards around the ground displaying the message: "Thank you Ben Stokes."
Gay (10) edged behind and Root, England's all-time leading run scorer, was
brilliantly run out by Henry Nicholls for 18.
A seventh-wicket stand of 75 runs between Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson held up
New Zealand's charge before lunch, before Atkinson (19) was trapped lbw by
spinner Mitchell Santner.
The end came 15 minutes into the second session, when Smith was dismissed for
60.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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