Craig, Williamson spin NZ to famous win

New Zealand stormed to an improbable 199-run victory over England on the last day of the second test to level the series 1-1 at Headingley on Tuesday.
Earlier, New Zealand prized out three more wickets to move to the brink of a series-levelling victory as England scrambled to 206 for eight at tea.
The hosts, chasing a record 455 to win, lost five wickets in the morning and only a defiant 56 from captain Alastair Cook held up the ruthless New Zealanders who are bidding for their fifth test triumph in England.
Cook’s innings, lasting nearly four hours, ended when he was trapped lbw by part-time spinner Kane Williamson before Moeen Ali was bowled for two, shouldering arms to a ball from Matt Henry that struck his off stump.
Stuart Broad made a breezy 23 before he was bowled by Williamson.
Jos Buttler battled through the afternoon session to finish unbeaten on 40 with Mark Wood on 10.
England had resumed on 44 for no wicket and Adam Lyth failed to add to his overnight 24, feathering a swinging ball from paceman Trent Boult through to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi.
Gary Ballance unconvincingly negotiated 25 deliveries for six runs before Boult produced a venomous full delivery that crashed into the left-hander’s stumps.
Ian Bell, on one, turned a bouncing ball from spinner Mark Craig straight into the hands of Williamson at leg-slip and Joe Root was brilliantly caught off Craig for a second-ball duck by Tom Latham at short leg.
With England’s slim hopes of victory all but over, Cook and Ben Stokes adopted a cautious approach, although the allrounder produced a couple of trademark crisp boundaries to entertain a sparse crowd on a chilly day at Headingley.
The pair added 40 for the fifth wicket but Stokes was out for 29 just before lunch, caught by Ronchi as he attempted an ambitious cut off Williamson.
England won the first test at Lord’s by 124 runs.

 

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