New Zealand registered a comfortable win in the first ever day/night Test match played on the New Zealand soil by defeating England with an innings and 49 run margin.
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Both Stokes and Root followed first-innings ducks – England made five – with 50s at their second attempt.
The New Zealanders bowled out England for 320 in the final session, after leading by 369 runs on the first innings and after England started the last day with a 267-run deficit and seven wickets in hand.
England did appear to adapt in the second innings, with their application far better as they were content to bat time rather than look to score.
His dismissal left England heading into the final session under lights at 300-7 and needing to survive another 31 overs, but when Astle struck early to dismiss Overton, the victory was in sight.
The end came when No.11 James Anderson attempted an unnecessary drive against leg-spinner Todd Astle and sent a catch straight to mid-off.
Ultimately they paid the price for a disastrous first innings where rustiness, poor footwork and shot selection – combined with the brilliance of man-of-the-match Boult – proved the difference.
Attention will naturally turn to changes England could make and areas in which they can improve after such a heavy defeat and Root said: “We’re always searching to improve our game, move forward as a side and make sure we’re giving ourselves opportunities to win as much as possible”.
Williamson then trusted his gut that the ball had flicked Moeen Ali’s front pad before it hit his bat to review Paul Reiffel’s not out decision in the final over before the end of the first session and technology confirmed his hunch.
Root had scored his 38th test half century and was showing signs of the fight that his team would have been able to rally around on the fifth day.
He had to wait nearly four days before he was first called to the bowling crease Monday by Williamson.
Having sensationally dismissed the tourists for just 58 on the opening day of the first Test, heavy rain on days two and three had threatened to derail the Black Caps’ charge towards a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. “We have to learn some lessons quickly”.
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Asked how Root had taken the late setback, Broad said: “I’ve not seen him – I think he’s still sat in the toilet. We’ve got to play our natural games for the start of the day – and then if you get yourself in a position where it is completely “shut up shop”, you can adjust to that”. The Kiwis won by an innings and 132 run margin in the 1984 Christchurch Test.
