On this day in 2015: New Zealand beat England by 199 runs to level the series
Exactly 7 years ago, in a Test match that ended on 2nd June 2015, New Zealand produced a scintillating performance to thrash England by 199 runs at Leeds. Let us now unravel the facts of this match where New Zealand emerged on top.
Fighting on equal terms
The England side won the toss and elected to field first. Even though England reduced the Kiwis to 2/2, they could not capitalize on their excellent start with the ball as Tom Latham and Luke Ronchi stood up with the bat in hand for the visitors. While Latham scored a defiant 84 off 180 deliveries, Luke Ronchi blazed away to 88 at a strike rate of 125.71, as the Black Caps posted a total of 350 on the board.
The legendary Stuart Broad was the pick of the bowlers for the England side. The right-arm pacer scalped 5 wickets, giving away 109 runs in the 17.1 overs that he rolled his arm over. In reply, the England openers gave their side a solid start. The opening duo of Adam Lyth and Alastair Cook put on a mammoth 177-run partnership for the hosts. While Lyth scored 107, Cook helped himself to a sedate 187-ball 75. However, the other England batsmen failed to contribute with the bat, and England were bowled out for 350.
New Zealand bulldoze England
New Zealand produced a rollicking performance in their second essay. Led by a century from BJ Watling, and half-centuries from the likes of Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum and Mark Craig, the Black Caps declared their second innings with a total of 454/8 on the board.
Mark Wood scalped 3 wickets for England with the red cherry in hand. That meant that England were set a near-impossible target of 455 for victory in their second innings. And, the England side produced a poor performance in the second essay.
Except for Jos Buttler and Alastair Cook, who scored 73 and 56 respectively, none of the other England batsmen could even go past the 30-run mark. And in the end, they were shot out for 255, as New Zealand coasted to a 199-run victory to level the two-match Test series 1-1.
BJ Watling was awarded the Player of the Match award for his century in the second innings for New Zealand.
