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Metropolis Desk-
As Brendon McCullum took over as coach and Stokes was given the captaincy last year, England won 10 out of 11 Test matches. This was accomplished by implementing an offensive revolution that was again pivotal in the day-night Test at the Bay Oval.
England secured victory in the first session of day four by dismissing New Zealand for 126 after they resumed at 63-5 after using aggression and cunning pink-ball strategies to gain the upper hand.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad, two seasoned pace bowlers, both finished with four second innings wickets as England claimed its first victory in New Zealand in 15 years and a 1-0 series lead.
On Saturday night under lights, Broad (4-49) tore through New Zealand’s top order, taking all four wickets cleanly to drop them to 28-5 in search of the winning 394.
The main troublemaker on Sunday was longtime new ball partner James Anderson (4-18), who overturned four tailenders as New Zealand added 63 more runs in 22.3 overs.
After resuming his batting on 13, only Daryl Mitchell, who is undefeated on 57, offered any resistance. He hit two sixes en route to his sixth Test half-century.
The game was tactically dominated by England, who batted aggressively and purposefully timed the conclusion of each of their innings so that New Zealand would have to face a fresh pink ball in lively seam conditions on days one and three under lights.
Before focusing on the match with Australia in England’s summer, the visitors will be favorites to defeat the stumbling Black Caps in the second Test in Wellington.
Stokes made it seem as though he was already looking forward to unleashing England’s bold strategy in their attempt to win back the Ashes.
