“Bazball just hit a roadblock”- Twitter goes berserk as New Zealand shock England despite follow-on to pull off historic Test victory

Neil Wagner displayed a nerve of steel when one run was needed, to dismiss James Anderson who was in complete disbelief.

“Bazball just hit a roadblock”- Twitter goes berserk as New Zealand shock England despite follow-on to pull off historic Test victory

NZ vs ENG

New Zealand became the fourth team to pull off a thrilling Test victory despite being forced to follow-on. They shocked England in Wellington by one run on the final day on Tuesday (February 28) to script this historic victory.

Neil Wagner displayed nerves of steel when one run was needed, to dismiss James Anderson who was in complete disbelief. Apart from Anderson, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and skipper Ben Stokes became Wagner’s other victims.

Earlier, with Joe Root’s unbeaten 153 and Harry Brook’s 186, England declared their innings at 435/8. The hosts looked helpless against Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Jack Leach who bundled out Tim Southee’s men for 209. Southee was the lone fighter with his quick 73 off 49, laced with five boundaries and six maximums. Apart from him, the others couldn’t even cross the 50-run mark.

As England forced the follow-on, Kane Williamson played a 132-run knock, and from Tom Latham’s 83, Devon Conway’s 61, Tom Blundell’s 90, and Daryl Mitchell’s 54, New Zealand reached 256. England’s second innings saw only Joe Root scoring a quick 95 runs, but others fumbled in front of the Kiwi bowlers.

England’s run chase was quick enough, but it wasn’t without losing wickets at regular intervals. Soon they found themselves near the target with one run needed when Wagner sent the wave of shock with keeper Tom Blundell’s diving catch to restrict the tourists at 256.

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Check how Twitter reacted to New Zealand’s victory over England despite the follow-on

New Zealand crush England despite follow-on to pull off historic Test victory
NZ vs ENG
https://twitter.com/Jokeresque_/status/1630417514701406213

New Zealand becomes the second team to win a Test by 1 run in 146 year history. They also joined three other teams who have scripted history by securing victory despite the follow-on. India had shown the same against Australia at the Kolkata Test back in 2001. In 1894 between England and Australia, the former won it despite the follow-on. Again between the same team in 1981, England secured the victory.

“It’s a pretty special Test win,” Southee told reporters after the match. “The character that we’ve shown in the last three days has been very impressive and I’m proud of the guys to be able to bounce back after a tough first couple of days. It was just a great Test match to be involved in, only four times in the history of the game, so it was a very pleasing Test to be part of.”

It’s worth noting that since both England and New Zealand are already out of contention for reaching the World Test Championship final, this match was not a part of the tournament. At the same time, this is England’s second defeat since Brendon McCullum took over the role of head coach last year.

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