At tea on the final day, this nip and tuck Test remained resolutely nip and tuck. England, chasing a mammoth 299, needed 160 more from 38 overs to secure a memorable series win over New Zealand.
The game was in the balance, but New Zealand, a bowler down, were perhaps marginal favourites because England’s tail starts at No8 and their talismanic batter, Joe Root, had made just three. At the crease were Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes, experienced figures building a partnership. Stokes has made a career out of the business of miracles; England did not quite need one yet, but they were not far off.
