Nash, a smash hit for Kiwis

LONDON, AUGUST 22: New Zealand crushed England by 83 runs in the decisive fourth Test at The Oval today, sealing a 2-1 series victory and...

LONDON, AUGUST 22: New Zealand crushed England by 83 runs in the decisive fourth Test at The Oval today, sealing a 2-1 series victory and plunging English cricket into yet another crisis. The Kiwis took just 13 balls after lunch to claim the last three England wickets after yet another in glorious collapse by the home team.

England lost their last eight wickets for 39 from just 105 deliveries and 77 minutes as they were bowled out for 162 in their second innings. The big setback in Nasser Hussain’s first series as captain plunged England to the bottom of the unofficial Test league.

It was only New Zealand’s second series victory over England following one in 1986 — in which the Kiwis won the middle Test at Trent Bridge and drew the other two. Cries of What a load of rubbish!’ came from the gathering in front of the pavilion after England’s capitulation.

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New Zealand all-rounder Dion Nash ripped through the England middle-order in the opening session to leave the hosts struggling on 157 for seven atlunch. Nash claimed Mike Atherton, Mark Ramprakash first ball and Alec Stewart in the space of 12 deliveries at a cost of just four runs.

Atherton and Graham Thorpe had earlier looked to have put Hussain’s side on the road to a series victory after taking England to 123 for two after resuming the day at 91 for two. However, at 143, the England crisis really set in. Atherton, 64 in 158 balls and England’s big hope of victory departed followed by Ramprakash off successive balls. Ronnie Irani avoided the hat-trick, but Stewart (12) was then caught at square-leg by Matthew Bell and the die was cast.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand (1st innings): 236

England (1st innings): 153

New Zealand (2nd innings): 162

England (2nd innings; overnight 91-2): M Atherton c Parore b Nash 64, D Maddy c Fleming b Nash 5, N Hussain c Parore b O’Connor 9, G Thorpe c Fleming b O’Connor 44, A Stewart c Bell b Nash 12, M Ramprakash c Parore b Nash 0, R Irani c Parore b Vettori 9, A Caddick c Bell b Vettori 3, A Mullally cTwose b Cairns 3, P Tufnell run out 1, E Giddins not out 0; Extras: (b2, lb3, nb7) 12. Total: (all out in 56.1 overs) 162

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-45, 3-123, 4-143, 5-143, 6-148, 7-157, 8-160 9-161

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Bowling: Cairns 15.1-3-50-1, Nash 14-3-39-4, Vettori 16-6-36-2, O’Connor 11-3-32-2

Result: NZ won by 83 runs, win series 2-1.

First Test (Edgbaston): England won by seven wickets. Second Test (Lord’s): New Zealand won by nine wickets. Third Test (Old Trafford): Drawn.