England suffered a humiliating 253-run defeat by New Zealand in the second Test at The Oval.
Beginning day five on 182-5 and still needing 281 more runs to win, the hosts collapsed in a heap as Matt Henry took 6-29 to go with his first innings 5-80 as England were dismissed for just 109.
Jofra Archer, Matt Fisher and Josh Tongue all fell for ducks to cap what has been a chastening five days for this inexperienced England team in the absence of Ben Stokes.
The three-match series is now level at 1-1 heading into the third Test which starts at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Daily Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH was at The Oval and he has rated both sets of players below.
England collapsed in a heap on the final day to lose to New Zealand by 253 runs at the Oval
Matt Henry bowled sensationally as he took his second five-wicket haul of the match
Ben Duckett – 5
Looked in stunning touch before Gay ran him out on the second day, but dropped a costly catch off Jamieson and fell to a misguided hook on the fourth. Has now gone 14 innings without a half-century.
Emilio Gay – 6
Scored another good-looking 50, but ran out Duckett in the first innings, and played a loose clip in the second.
Jacob Bethell – 4
Four wickets for his left-arm spin and three sharp catches couldn’t mask another thin performance with the bat. Now has 29 runs in four innings since returning from the IPL.
Joe Root – 7
Ticked off 14,000 Test runs, and outscored all his team-mates with 46 and 77, but was pinned twice by Henry and his captaincy showed no sign of improvement from four years ago.
Joe Root passed 14,000 Test runs which is an incredible achievement but struggled as captain
Harry Brook – 6.5
A total of 82 runs off 86 balls, including the shot of the match – an outrageous open-faced carve for six over backward point off a full-length ball from O’Rourke. But twice was left feeling unfulfilled.
James Rew – 4
Twice lost his wicket with around 10 minutes to go before stumps, the first time to a poorly judged hook. Missed two glaring chances behind the stumps on a difficult debut.
It was a chastening debut for James Rew as he struggled with the bat and missed two chances
Jordan Cox – 6
Played some nice strokes on debut, but his first-innings chip to midwicket was tame, and he was left with tail in the second.
Jofra Archer – 6.5
At times bowled with pace and hostility, particularly to Phillips on the first evening, and again on the fourth morning. But Root’s reluctance to overbowl him cost England on day two.
Matthew Fisher – 6
Five wickets didn’t quite tell the tale, since three came when New Zealand were going for quick runs on the fourth afternoon. Posed little threat when it mattered, but batted well for a half-century.
Josh Tongue – 6
Wasn’t flattered by match figures of three for 161, and bowled well on the fourth morning, though by then it was too late.
Sonny Baker – 5.5
His first two Test wickets were good ones – Ravindra and Mitchell – and his enthusiasm infectious, but he went at 4.7 an over and still has plenty to learn.
Sonny Baker bowled quick and showed positives signs but he also still has plenty to learn
New Zealand
Tom Latham 4
Devon Conway 3
Henry Phillips 8.5
Rachin Ravindra 7.5
Daryl Mitchell 7.5
Tom Blundell 8
Glenn Phillips 8
Nathan Smith 6
Kyle Jamieson 7
Matt Henry 9
Will O’Rourke 7.5
