Key Takeaways
- England won the Christchurch Test by 8 wickets, led by Brydon Carse and Jacob Bethell.
- Brydon Carse took 6 wickets in the Christchurch Test, including a 5-wicket haul.
- The target for England in the Christchurch Test was 104 runs, which they reached inside 13 overs.
Christchurch (New Zealand): Brydon Carse and debutant Jacob Bethell led England to an impressive eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Christchurch.
Carse took three crucial wickets on the fourth morning, securing a 5-wicket haul in his debut Test match.
To go with the four he took in the first innings, the 29-year-old had match figures of 10-106, the first away 10-for by an England bowler since Monty Panesar in 2012, and first by a seamer since Ryan Sidebottom in this country 16 years ago.
Daryl Mitchell clubbed 84, adding 45 for the last wicket with Will O’Rourke, to drag New Zealand up to 254 all out.
That left England a target of only 104, which they reached inside 13 overs for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Bethell, the 21-year-old, hit the winning runs in his 37-ball unbeaten 50.
There was a concern for England when Ben Stokes pulled up during his fifth over, but the captain said he will be fit for the second Test in Wellington on Friday (3-30 a.m IST).
