New Zealand vs England, 2nd Test at Wellington, NZ v ENG, Feb 24 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

4.42pm And with that, it's an exhausted good night from the Basin Reserve. What a stunning contest we've witnessed. Congratulations to New Zealand for bringing a halt to England's stunning run of form in the most stunning manner imaginable! From Miller, Alan, Vairavan and Ranjith, thanks and see you next time!

Kane Williamson is Player of the Match: "Doesn't quite feel right to be standing here, after a game of cricket like that and the contributions we've seen from both teams throughout. A fantastic game of cricket to be a part of and, for us as a team, we've been fighting away in the test format for a while so it's nice to get across the line on this one. This England team is playing incredible cricket at the moment and we're up against it, coming into this game. So to fight away and compete and ultimately just get across the line is, is a really nice feeling."

Harry Brook is Player of the Series: "Looking at the pitch on the first day, we didn't think it'd last that long. In the end, it was a very good cricket wicket. It was an enjoyable game to watch. I wouldn't say I am a bowler, I'm just glad that I contributed in that stage of the game and managed to get the breakthrough. That opened it up for us but the result didn't go our way. Credit to New Zealand, they were fantastic. We're trying to take one game at a time at the moment."

Ben Stokes: "That game is what Test cricket is about, the emotions we were going through and the Kiwi boys as well. Everyone's got their money's worth today. We knew that at some point Tim would have to roll the dice. For Joe and myself, that was the opportunity to pounce, and sometimes things don't happen how you want them to. With bouncer plans, you have to make a decision about what to go to. As soon as Waggie came on I saw it as an opportunity to take 20 runs. [How's the knee?] Better than bad...

"Disappointing to end on a loss but four out of five away from home is something we will take great pride in. A few months off and get back to what we love doing."

Tim Southee: "RIght up there, only a handful of sides have come back from the follow-on to win. Once it digests, the guys will soak it up. The character they've shown in the last few days. The guys were calm, if we'd walked off and shaken hands and it wasn't good enough, it wasn't good enough. We couldn't read too much into a day-night Test, the first two days here England were class, the openers stood up in the second innings, but Daryl, Kane, Tom Blundell... typical Kiwi scrapping effort. Neil's had a massive impact from trusting his best method, it came on this time. It's great for Test cricket, the way England are playing, and it's good for Test cricket going forward."

4.24pm We'll have the presentations shortly. What a day it's been, for a packed crowd at Basin, invited in for free, for the New Zealand team ... and for Test cricket as a whole!

And just to confirm, wins after following-on ... this page will shortly be getting an update... Sydney 1894, Headingley 1981, Kolkata 2001... Wellington 2023!

As for the B-ball bandwagon... here's two takes:

Banshee : "Perhaps now we can put Bazball to rest! England didn't have the application, and grit needed to finish a match that was practically handed to them on a platter. What arrogance from the Poms! Job well done, Kiwis!"

Hardik: "I dnt think Bazball has crumbled.. any other team and they could have lost by a 100 run margin.. its bazball that got England so close!"

For what it's worth, there's no way England will change their approach for the Ashes! What a prospect that series now feels...

4.14pm Well, where do we start with that? A toilet break would be a good start I reckon. What mayhem, right from the first hour as England blazed themselves into a corner, through the chalk and cheese stand between Joe Root and Ben Stokes that turned the momentum England's way... and through Foakes' gutsy marshalling of his ninth-wicket stand with Jack Leach, who won't be remembering this 1 not out with quite such fondness as his last! But New Zealand brawled and brawled, with Wagner's short-ball shift drying up England's progress, and don't forget his two gutsy takes at deep third. It's a glorious way to defend their proud home record, undefeated in 11 series now since 2017, and though the World Test Championship is long gone for them, that is a mighty way to remind everyone of the spirit that lifted them to that inaugural title!

It's England's second defeat under Ben Stokes, and their first in seven. They were always likely to go down in flames, but that was something else!

Karl: "That's the way the Bazball cookie crumbles! Hats off to both teams, this has to go down as one of the all time great tests. Current and future generations of NZ cricketers now have their own Eden Gardens 2001 as source of inspiration and legend!"

sachin: "I was giving bath to my little daughter in bathroom with match on mobile and we both started screaming and jumping after that last wicket, what a match what a thriller, long live test matches "

Dr Sujoy Banik : "That is Justice done, after Superman Kane's efforts yesterday. Well done NZ! Love from Canada!"

4.08pm Un-be-liev-able! New Zealand have won by one run! The second such margin in Test history, almost exactly 30 years after the first! And the fourth time that a team has won after following on! That stat almost feels like a footnote amid all this drama. The New Zealand team swarm around Wagner, their final-day hero.,. after some brutal treatment in the first Test, he's picked off four!

Here's Wagner: "Amazing achievement, hats off to everyone, everyone kept fighting. That's the characteristics of this team, they played well, credit where it's due, but we found a way of contributing. The way Brook came after me was awesome to watch, not to receive."

Blundell: "Saw it well and lucky it went in clean. Pretty happy. When Foakesy hit it over Beastie's head I thought they would do it but we fight to the bitter end. Yesterday with Kane, getting the team in a good position, good feeling. A bit unexpected to stand up [to the stumps] that early but you want to be a part of those moments."

Wagner's brutal lengths have been causing Anderson some bother. Does he chance his arm? The dilemmas... can't imagine what I'd do in this situation as a club tailender, let alone in this scenario!

Blackbird rings out on the trumpet in tribute to Somerset's finest

Anyone for one of these?

Right, it's do or die. Here's Southee

All that six-hitting practice, eh... boshing for the win after all!

The second most famous single of his career? We'll see

Ravi Bonda: "Not sure about jimmy hitting the winning runs but he definitely was the final nail in the coffin on multiple occasions." Oh yes. Too numerous to mention!

Over the wicket again, bringing the yorker into play

Leach hasn't had much to face from Wagner... all change now!

Dean : "Ironically we've been talking about Gilbert Jessop all winter and we've come full circle to the match in which he scored England's fastest hundred and Rhodes and Hirst saw the team home to win by one wicket."

Wagner, fresh from his catch, has ten and jack in his sights... short leg, silly point, leg gully, gully

One thing's for sure. No more turned-down singles!

And so... after 179 Tests and innumerable last-wicket muggings, James Anderson arrives with a match to win, and lose!

Southee rings the changes. Short leg, silly point, gully, leg gully

The 250 is up, for what it's worth

Matthew: "Who was it who supposedly said "we'll get 'em in singles?" Leach is saying "I'll get it in dots!"" That'll be George Hirst.. bookmark this for later!