Top 5 Test matches of 2018

#3 New Zealand versus England, Christchurch, 24th-27th January

England posted all nine fielders around the bat on day five

England had been trounced by the Australian Test team in Australia. Neighbours New Zealand had blown them away in the first Test for the score of 58. So, when England gained an upper hand in the see-saw Test at Hagley Oval, they went for the kill. New Zealand’s rearguard action then made the match memorable.

The hosts had England on the mat in the first innings at 164/7. A braveheart century from Jonny Bairstow and the knock of 52 from Mark Wood saw England complete their innings on 307. New Zealand also tumbled and found themselves in trouble at 36/5. BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee fought back and kept the English lead down to 29 runs.

With aid of four half-centuries, England asked the Blackcaps to chase 382 in four sessions. At Lunch on day five, New Zealand was 124/4 and by Tea, they slid to 191/6. England pushed their cause with close-in fielders and relentless attacking overs but Grandhomme and Ish Sodhi stood tall. Ish Sodhi 56(168) and Wagner 7(103) later thwarted all English attempts to secure a hard-earned draw.

Brief scores:

England 307 (Bairstow 101, Wood 52, Southee 6/62) and 352 for 9 dec (Vince 76, Stoneman 60, Root 54, de Grandhomme 4-94) drew with New Zealand 278 (Watling 85, de Grandhomme 72, Broad 6/54) and 256 for 8 (Latham 83, Sodhi 56*).