New Zealand v England - Third Test

Basin Reserve, Wellington

NZL: GM Turner, MH Richardson, BE Congdon, MD Crowe, *JR Reid, JV Coney, RJ Hadlee, +KJ Wadsworth, RC Motz, RO Collinge, SL Boock.
ENG: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, WR Hammond, PBH May, MC Cowdrey, AW Greig, +LEG Ames, MW Tate, JC Laker, H Larwood, RGD Willis.

Debuts: MW Tate (ENG)
Umpires: BL Aldridge & SJ Woodward
Toss: England

England knew that if they could avoid defeat at the Basin Reserve they would not only secure the series, but they would also claim sole possession of the number one position in the world rankings ahead of the upcoming Ashes series, and after their performances in the first two Tests they were firm favourites to complete their quest successfully. With John Snow now added to the tourists' ridiculously long injury list, Maurice Tate would make his debut just a matter of days after joining the squad, but he was able to spend the first half of the game with his feet up as England amassed a huge first innings total after Hutton had won the toss and elected to bat.

The overhead conditions on day one should have offered New Zealand's seamers some assistance, but with Hadlee woefully out of form the Kiwi attack lacked leadership and England's batsmen took full advantage. Hobbs was run out for 23 after a rare mix up with Hutton, but England's skipper made amends with an even hundred, and it got no better for the Blackcaps as England batted their way to their second highest ever total over the course of the first two a bit days. The untouchable Hammond stroked 185 to go with his 258 in Dunedin, and he added 196 with Peter May, who made 98 in his first knock of the series. The coup de grace was then administered by Cowdrey (107*) and Ames (95), whose sixth wicket partnership of 171 came at nearly a run a ball, and when Hutton finally called a halt to the carnage, England had made their way to an imposing 635-6.

New Zealand now had to bat for the best part of three days if they were to save the game, and they had been reduced to 80-3 before Crowe and Reid hooked up to produce a stirring fourth wicket stand. Crowe batted resolutely but Reid responded to the pressure by playing all his strokes, and the crowd were richly entertained as New Zealand fought back in admirable style. It took the new ball to make the breakthrough on the fourth morning, with Willis eventually bowling Crowe for 76 to end the partnership on 186, New Zealand's third highest for any wicket. Reid had reached a wonderful maiden hundred off 148 balls, but Crowe's wicket precipitated a collapse that saw the Kiwis stumble from 266-3 to 367 all out, and although Motz entertained with a career high 58* from number nine, New Zealand had failed to save the follow-on, finishing 268 adrift of England's first innings.

So New Zealand had to bat again, and they lost Turner for 35, neatly stumped by Ames off Laker just before the close on day four, which ended with the Blackcaps on 61-1. England consequently needed to take nine wickets on the final day to close out the series, and although a rain delayed start gave New Zealand hope, breakthroughs came on a regular basis with only Crowe (53) able to pass fifty. An incredible spell of 3-8 from Hammond either side of tea finally broke Kiwi resolve, and Willis returned with the new ball to finish a good match for him (match figures of 7-112) and complete an innings victory for England with 17 overs to spare.

England were good value for their victory, both in this Test and the series, rising above horrendous injury problems to put in three thoroughly professional performances, and they now sit proudly at the top of the ATG tree. New Zealand had always been on the back foot in this match, and it was only during Crowe and Reid's first innings partnership that they were able to compete on anything approaching an even footing. Pakistan are now in town for the second half of New Zealand's summer season, and once again the Kiwis will enter a series as underdogs, a position that they must now be used to.

Scores
ENG 1st Inns 635-6 dec. (Hammond 185, Cowdrey 107*, Hutton 100, May 98, Ames 95)
NZL 1st Inns 367 (Reid 108, Crowe 76, Motz 58*, Richardson 48, Willis 4-54)
NZL 2nd Inns 190 (Crowe 53)

ENGLAND WON BY AN INNINGS & 78 RUNS

Man of the Match: WR Hammond