Trent Bridge thriller: NZ defeats England by 160 runs to win third Test

In a high‑stakes encounter at Trent Bridge, New Zealand emerged victorious by 160 runs, clinching the Test series 2‑1 against England.

England had taken the first Test by 115 runs, but New Zealand responded emphatically in the second, winning by 253 runs, making the third match a winner‑takes‑all battle. After opting to bat, New Zealand posted 438, anchored by a monumental 317‑run stand between captain Tom Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157). Latham’s fifteen fours and Conway’s twenty‑five boundaries highlighted the innings.

England’s response was anchored by Ben Duckett’s patient 113, complemented by Jacob Bethall’s 74 and Harry Brook’s 58, yet the team collapsed at 354. Ben Stokes led the New Zealand attack with four wickets, with Jofra Archer and Shoaib Bashir each taking two.

With an 84‑run advantage after the first innings, New Zealand set England a target of 373. England’s second‑innings effort stalled at 212. Duckett (36) and Stokes (30) began the chase, but wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving England six down for just 116 runs.

Jem Smith’s late surge with Ethan Atkinson added a fleeting partnership of 75 runs, but the dismissal of Atkinson for 19 reignited New Zealand’s dominance. Zakari Folkes claimed three wickets, while Nathan Smith and Michael Sentner each took two, cementing New Zealand’s series win.