New Zealand defeated England by 253 runs in the second Test at The Oval on Sunday, dismissing the hosts for 209 just 48 minutes into the final day. Fast bowler Matt Henry delivered a devastating morning spell, taking five wickets in 31 balls to seal a commanding victory.
Henry's Masterclass Ends England's Resistance
England resumed on 182-5, chasing an improbable target of 463. Henry produced a metronomic spell of 5-3 in 31 balls, finishing with 6-29 in the innings and 11-109 in the match—the best-ever match figures by a New Zealand bowler against England. This was his first 10-wicket haul in his 35th Test.
“I didn’t expect it to unfold like that today but probably saved a hot day in the field,” Henry said after being named player of the match.
Key Wickets Fall in Quick Succession
Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Matthew Fisher, and Josh Tongue were dismissed in two double-wicket maidens by Henry. Root added only two runs to his overnight 75, beaten by Henry between bat and pad and struck plumb on the back thigh. He reviewed in vain and trudged off with 77 from 145 balls, taking with him England’s last hope. Henry became the first bowler to dismiss Root and Harry Brook twice in a single Test.
Archer’s wickets were smashed by an unplayable shooter under his bat; he smiled after his two-ball duck. Fisher chopped on to his leg stump on 0, and Tongue edged to first slip on 0 as well. Henry stood still and yelled at his five-for and ten-for milestones before being mobbed by teammates. Cox, on 0 overnight, made a cameo 25 before being bowled trying to sweep. Sonny Baker did not score.
Historic Win for New Zealand
New Zealand earned only its seventh win in England in 95 years of touring and only its second at The Oval, the first since 1999. Henry had suffered back spasms on the first morning at Lord’s, making him a virtual passenger. A 10-day gap to The Oval Test allowed him to recover fully. “It feels bad when you let the guys down on day one,” he said. “It was great to come here and get my quota out.”
Henry is the first bowler to take 10 wickets in an Oval Test since Shane Warne in the 2005 Ashes and the first pacer since Devon Malcolm in 1994 against South Africa. He praised wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for standing up to the stumps, keeping England batters in two minds. “Having a world-class operator like Tom is huge,” Henry said. “He’s always up for it. You can’t do it unless you’ve got someone good behind the stumps. We know England like to create a flow of runs.”
Series Leveled Ahead of Decider
The crushing win followed England’s big win at Lord’s and sends the series to a decider in Nottingham starting on Thursday. Beside Henry, Kyle Jamieson took four wickets in the match after starring on Saturday evening. Glenn Phillips hit his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, putting New Zealand on top, and Henry Nicholls added his hundred in the second innings in a giant partnership with Rachin Ravindra that batted England out of the game.
“Little moments in the first innings set the platform for the ball to get soft and Glenn to do his thing,” Henry said. “Top order did a job for us. The way the guys applied themselves with the ball, we talked about being relentless and different from each end. We stuck at it and got the rewards.”
