Leeds, England (AP): New Zealand maintained its two-year unbeaten run in test series on Tuesday, dismissing England for 255 on the fifth day to win the second test by 199 runs at Headingley and draw the series 1-1.
The Black Caps' first test victory in England this century and ninth ever in 101 tests gave them something to show for their inventive and adventurous approach over the past two weeks that is earning the team many admirers in test cricket.
England won a thrilling first test at Lord's.
Resuming at 44-0 and requiring a world-record run chase of 455 to win, England lost four wickets for 15 runs in the first hour and was rocking on 152-5 at lunch.
Alastair Cook was holding the innings together but the England captain's departure for 56 by which time he'd become the youngest player ever to reach 9,000 career test runs exposed the tail.
The end came just less than an hour into the final session and after 78.5 overs in the day when Mark Craig trapped Jos Buttler lbw for a team-high 73, sparking Kiwi celebrations that were briefly cut short while England reviewed. It ended up being plumb.
Kane Williamson, a part-time spinner, was an unlikely star for the Black Caps with figures of 3-15.
New Zealand is now unbeaten in seven test series stretching back to its 2013 tour of England, justifying captain Brendon McCullum's bold style of play that saw the team score more than 1,500 runs over the two tests.
England heads into the Ashes series with many questions hanging over the team, although boosted by the return to form of Cook. There were few other positives to take from Headingley, however.
England batsman Joe Root said the team would go "all guns blazing" on Tuesday for the remaining runs needed to win the test. That didn't prove to be the case.
The English crawled along at the start of the day, scoring 14 runs in the first 11 overs and it soon became clear a draw was all the team was playing for. However, wickets soon began to tumble under a cloudy sky.
Defending on the back foot, Adam Lyth edged left-arm paceman Trent Boult to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi without adding to his overnight 24. In came Gary Ballance (6), who lasted 26 balls before Boult arrowed in a delivery that glanced off the batsman's pads and cleaned out the stumps.
Ballance has been bowled three times this series, in which he has averaged 9 runs.
Ian Bell (1) is another player short of form before the Ashes and he departed by nicking Craig to Williamson at leg slip after 10 balls. Since his century against West Indies at North Sound, Bell has scored 55 in eight innings, averaging 6.88.
Craig removed Root for a duck two balls later but it owed more to the amazing reflexes of Tom Latham at short leg. Root middled a shot that hit Latham in the chest, yet the New Zealand fielder still managed to cling onto the ball. Root looked stunned as the Kiwis celebrated.
Ballance, Bell and Root departed in the space of 19 balls, and Ben Stokes (29) chopped at Williamson in the spinner's first over for Ronchi to take a sharp catch.
As the wind picked up, England desperately required another stoic rearguard action from Cook but he was trapped lbw playing late at Williamson. Cook returned to the pavilion on exactly 9,000 runs.
Afforded the luxury of surrounding the bat and having intimidating field placings, New Zealand removed Moeen Ali for 2 and Stuart Broad for 23 before tea.
Craig took a fine catch from Tim Southee to get rid of Mark Wood for 17 and Buttler was last to go.
