(Cricket news) England defeated New Zealand 5 wickets in the 2nd Test. The Stokes-McCullum era has begun with a series win against World Test Championship holders New Zealand. England won the first match at Lords by 5 wickets inside 4 days to take the lead. At Trent Bridge, New Zealand were without the injured Kane Williamson and Colin de Grandhomme. Ben Stokes won the toss and put the Kiwis into bat. 

New Zealand put on a mammoth total of 553 in the first innings. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell continued their incredible form by scoring hundreds. Mitchell got his 2nd consecutive century as he scored 190 off 318 balls hitting 23 fours and 4 sixes. After missing on a ton at Lords, Blundell came back strong as he got 106 off 198 balls hitting 14 fours in the process. Will Young, Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell all scored 40s but couldn't build on it. James Anderson was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up 3 wickets. Stuart Broad, Jack Leach and Ben Stokes picked up 2 wickets each while Matthew Potts chipped in with a wicket.

England in reply were bowled out for 539 runs. Alex Lees got the home team off to a good start as he scored 67 runs. Ollie Pope who was recently promoted to number 3 got his 2nd Test ton as he smashed 145 off 238 balls. Pope hit 13 boundaries and 3 maximums in his innings. Joe Root continued his excellent form as he got 176 off just 211 balls including 26 fours and a six. Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes played good cameos towards the end to cut the Kiwis' lead to just 14 runs. Disaster struck for the Black Caps when Kyle Jamieson had to go off in the middle of 17th over with a lower back problem. Trent Boult was relentless with his bowling as he picked up 5/103. Matt Henry got a scalp while Bracewell picked up 3 wickets. 

With a lead of 14 runs, New Zealand lost skipper Tom Latham in the very first over. Half centuries from Devon Conway, Will Young and Daryl Mitchell took England to a total of 284 runs. Anderson and Broad got two scalps each while Leach chipped in with the crucial wicket of Conway. Stuart Broad was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up 3/70 in his 20 overs. The target of 299 in 72 overs was definitely chase-able but England could've tried to get a draw since they were already leading the series 1-0. England came out with a clear intent to try and win the match which they managed to do inside 50 overs. 

Alex Lees started well as he scored 44 off 81 balls. The man of the moment was Jonny Bairstow who went into T20I mode and scored 136 of 92 balls hitting 14 boundaries and 7 maximus. Ben Stokes provides good support with 75 off 70 balls. England needed 160 runs to win in the final session and they did it in 16 overs to complete one of the best chases in Test match history. Trent Boult's incredible 3/94 went in vain as the Kiwis looked helpless towards the end. The Stokes-McCullum era is off to a positive start with a series win. They have a chance to complete a whitewash at Headingley in a week's time.

Also read: Bowlers and openers shine as India keep series alive with 48-run win