WATCH: How Neil Wagner dismissed James Anderson to secure dramatic victory against England

Neil Wagner's 4/62 proved to be in favor of the Black Caps, which included that vital wicket of Anderson. With this victory by the barest of margins, the hosts have tied the series 1-1.

WATCH: How Neil Wagner dismissed James Anderson to secure dramatic victory against England

James Anderson; Neil Wagner

Neil Wagner was the star of the second Test between New Zealand and England. Yes, he completed his four-fer, but that was nothing in front of the way he dismissed James Anderson when two runs were needed by the visitors to secure the victory in Wellington on Tuesday.

New Zealand needed just one wicket when Wagner delivered a length ball, which Anderson looked to flick toward fine leg but edged it to keeper Tom Blundell, who caught this most crucial wicket by diving to his right, and the Kiwis pulled off the dramatic victory by one run.

Watch the video below:

It’s rather interesting how Anderson always finds himself at the receiving end of a thriller contest that the opponent ends up winning. Back in 2014, Sri Lanka did the same with Anderson at the crease, and so did India in 2021.

Related: Shabnim Ismail scripts her name in history books, records fastest delivery in women’s cricket

Neil Wagner says moments like these stay forever in life 

Neil Wagner
NZ vs ENG

With the win, New Zealand became just the fourth team to secure a victory despite being asked to follow-on. Chasing a target of 258 in the fourth innings, England were left in disarray when they were reduced to 80/5 before knocks from Joe Root (95) and Ben Foakes (35) saved the team from tatters. Stokes and Root had also stitched a 121-run stand for the sixth wicket to put the chase back on track. But eventually, these runs had gone in vain.

Test wins after a follow-on 

England vs Australia- Sydney, 1894 (England won by 10 runs)

England vs Australia- Leeds, 1981 (England won by 18 runs)

India vs Australia- Eden Gardens, 2001 (India won by 171 runs)

New Zealand vs England, 2023 (New Zealand won by one run).

Neil Wagner’s 4/62 proved to be in favor of the Black Caps, which included that vital wicket of Anderson. With this victory by the barest of margins, the hosts have tied the series 1-1.

“Someone’s nail fish-hook in my face, a couple of holes in my shoes with few legs sticking in, these are the moments that stay with life forever- not five wickets or whatever,” Wagner was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“Too much went through my head. Gosh! All the things that go at the top of the mark. What ball to bowl, they needed two runs. Should I pitch it (up) and be at his stumps? You just stick to your guns,” the 36-year-old added.

In case you missed:

Virat Kohli churns fans with his special thanks to MS Dhoni just a month before the IPL

“She was jogging,” ex-India skipper furious with Harmanpreet Kaur’s ‘relaxed’ running