Ben Stokes’ brave and admirable defiance was in vain as England subsided by an innings and 49 runs against New Zealand for a 10th away Test defeat in their last 12 attempts.
Joe Root’s men had scant chance of recovering from the moment they were bowled out for 58 at Eden Park in Auckland in only 20.4 overs of the first session in this pink-ball series opener.
Almost two days of rain gave them a glimmer of keeping the Black Caps at bay for an improbable stalemate – but after their captain fell to what became the last ball of day four, hopes gradually dwindled on the way to 320 all out in the 127th over of the 146 Kane Williamson’s declaration challenged them to bat out.
No way back from 58 all out
A humbling day first day in Auckland. Scorecard: http://ms.spr.ly/6186r0veG
Posted by England Cricket on Thursday, March 22, 2018
Tweet of the day
After that lovely catch from Williamson we see Moeen Ali enter the fray.
Can he be the hero England need? ?
England 186/5trail by 183
Join us LIVE:? @5liveSport extra ? https://t.co/67vKbWkeev #NZvsENG #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/cV0XMzZPwj
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 26, 2018
Err … no. Test Match Special posed the same question about a succession of batsmen, but none could quite answer the call.
Give Stokes his due
Stat of the day
Three wickets each for Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Todd Astle in the final innings. Boult finishing with match figures of 9-99. Card | https://t.co/MiIfpeaU9o #NZvENG ? = @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/Fk3ww2nFAl
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 26, 2018
98 – A mountain of overs at New Zealand’s disposal to take seven wickets. In the end, it was plenty.
