England dominated New Zealand in the second Test in Wellington, securing a 323-run victory to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Joe Root’s century on Sunday set the tone for England, who then bowled out New Zealand for 259 to clinch their first series win on New Zealand soil since 2008.
Despite a defiant century from Tom Blundell, New Zealand was unable to chase down the mammoth target of 583 set by England. Ben Stokes praised his team’s aggressive style of play and praised the batting of Harry Brook, whose bravery in the first innings helped shift momentum in England’s favor.
Root’s century and strong bowling performances from Stokes and others ensured a quick victory for England, with Stokes confident they would not need a fourth day to secure the win. New Zealand captain Latham acknowledged that his team was hurting after two heavy losses but vowed to salvage some pride in the upcoming third Test.
The third and final Test between England and New Zealand is set to start in Hamilton on December 14, with New Zealand aiming to perform better after being outplayed in the first two matches. Despite the losses, Latham commended England for playing great cricket and applying pressure effectively throughout the series.
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