New Zealand beat England after one of their all-time great finishes

England lost to New Zealand by one run in one of the best finishes ever in the Second Test in Wellington.

On a barely believable final day at Basin Reserve, James Anderson’s last was caught in the leg side by Neil Wagner when England needed two goals to win.

Anderson had joined Jack Leach in the tenth with seven required, after Leach added 36 for the ninth wicket with Ben Foakes, caught at good leg for 35.

Anderson fended off a vicious bouncer from Wagner, then sensationally hit the next ball for four.

Leach took the lead off Tim Southee, leaving the stage for Anderson, but Wagner’s fourth wicket left England 257 all out and drew a deafening roar from the Basin Reserve crowd.

Needing 258 to win the match and the series, England slumped agonizingly to 80-5, then, after a stand of 121 between Joe Root and Ben Stokes, suffered another collapse 3-14.

Foakes, Leach and Anderson almost crossed the line, but eventually England lost a Test after forcing the follow on for the first time, the fourth defeat in Test history.

It ends a run of six consecutive victories and denies them a seventh successive win, a feat England last achieved in 2004.

For New Zealand, their first follow-on win seals a 1-1 draw in the series and protects their unbeaten run dating back to 2017.

England’s next Test will be against Ireland at Lord’s on 1 June before their attempt to regain the Ashes begins on 16 June.

An almost completely separated England squad kicks off a white-ball series in Bangladesh on Wednesday.

This was a stunning conclusion to a memorable test, played in front of a spirited crowd that awarded free entry to the Basin Reserve.

England have repeatedly stated their commitment to making Test cricket entertaining, but this cannot be in the text.

When Captain Stokes forced the follow-on on the third morning, New Zealand were 226 behind and England were dominant.

What followed was an impressive Kiwi comeback, with Kane Williamson making a neat century. The Blacks’ total of 483 was the fourth highest ever by a team pursuing against England.

Starting the fifth day at 48-1, England were favorites on a pitch that remained good for batting until a chaotic collapse of four wickets for 27, Harry Brook being run out without facing a ball.

Root’s counter-attack and Stokes’ stoicism – he took 116 balls over 33 – seemed to have regained control, before the pendulum swung again.

Fox hooked over Michael Bracewell at mid-wicket when he was 12 and New Zealand’s short-ball scheme became increasingly difficult.

The goal was set, anticipation ran high, and when Foakes finally made a mistake, the sight of the 40-year-old Anderson walking into the crease was pure theatre.

It looked like he was going to win for the first time in his outstanding Test career, but instead England suffered only the second defeat in Test history.

This loss will not derail England’s preparations for the summer Ashes. Their style has been established and converted from a team that managed one win in 17 Tests this time last year.

In fact, the biggest concern that comes out of this test is the state of Stokes’ fitness, as the all-rounder often swings and bowls only twice in a match.

When the prolific Brock, miles off his turf, ran out after pushing Root into the slips and taking off, Root caught the head of it in his hands.

It came after night watchman Ollie Robinson mistook Southee, Ben Duckett edged Matt Henry for 33, and Ollie Pope did the same for Wagner for 14.

England was in tatters, New Zealand rampant and the Basin Reserve bustling.

But Root began to make up for his role in running out Brook by launching a heavy attack, targeting Bracewell’s spin for certain punishment.

What made the move even more convincing was Stokes’ grim choreography while striking on one leg.

Transforming from a man who was a pacer in the first innings, Stokes hit just one of his first 19 balls, then scored mainly with edges through or over the slips.

Root’s half-century came in the run-with-the-ball game. In the first 50 runs he added with Stokes, the captain’s contribution was only five.

Wagner’s signature short ball scheme seemed to be New Zealand’s last hope. it worked.

Stokes’ ugly swipe ended with a top edge to square leg, while Root missed the draw to miss his second century of the match.

Stuart Broad tipped Henry’s bouncer to a third man and England fell to the ground.

But Foakes is irresistible and Leach has formed match-winning partnerships, having backed up Stokes in the famous Ashes victory at Headingley in 2019.

Although Foakes’ decision to refuse training on a regular basis seemed questionable, he asserted that Leach only faced more than two balls in the goal once as he gradually pulled away from the goal.

Foakes had the match in his grasp only to go one hook too far, leaving Anderson to write one more chapter in his career.

Anderson was upset that Wagner’s short delivery was not called wide, and on the next ball the brilliant Wagner had the final say in letting Leitch not out off 31 balls.

England captain Ben Stokes: “That game as a whole, in terms of what Test cricket is about, was fantastic.

“The vibes we were going through upstairs and I’m sure the Kiwi boys are too. It was great to be involved in it. I think everyone got their money’s worth today.

“It’s disappointing to end up losing here after such a great winter, but winning four out of five is great for this team.

“We’ve had a few months off before the Ashes start and then hopefully we can get back to doing what we love to do.”

New Zealander Kane Williamson, who was named man of the match: “It’s not right to stand here after a cricket match like this and the contributions we’ve seen from both teams throughout.

“Fantastic cricket to be a part of. For us as a team, we’ve been battling away in Test form for a while, so it was nice to get it across the line in this game.

“We had to fight really hard to reverse some of that momentum. England are playing amazing cricket at the moment and we were up against them in this match.

“To find a way to wrestle our way back and cross the line is a really nice feeling.”