Cricket Classics - Part XXiv : 2013 Auckland Test – New Zealand vs England
Hello, fellow Sports Enthusiasts,
Cricket is not just a sport between two teams; it's a battle of skills, strategy, and capitalizing on clutch moments. Although the game has transformed over the decades, it has never failed to impress or leave us with unforgettable moments.
So, through this series, I will present some of the most iconic cricket matches that have made fans jump out of their seats. Let's remember those legendary games once a week. I am with another iconic match.
The reason why Test Cricket is always best as it tests all the skills all the time. It's where the legends are made! This is an absolute classic match that I'm going to discuss today. It's one of the greatest escapes in Test history by England against the Kiwis.
In 2013, England toured New Zealand for a 3-match T20I series, a 3-match ODI series, and a 3-match Test series. England won both comfortably, and the first two Test matches were drawn. So, the two teams moved to the last one with high hopes.
The experiencedBrendon McCullum led the NZ team with Ross Taylor, young Kane Williamson, Southee, Boult, etc. India, led by Alastair Cook, had a powerful setup with Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, etc.
It was on March 22, 2013, ar Auckland. New Zealand started the batting and they carried it well. They posted a mammoth 443 in 152 overs. Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford had a 91-run partnership for the first wicket, and Fulton ended up scoring 136 runs. Williamson scored 91 runs, and almost all contributed nicely to get that total. Steven Finn got 6 wickets for England.
Anyway, the first inning for England went horribly with the NZ pacers. Apart from 73 runs from Matt Prior and 45 from Joe Root, there were no notable contributions. Wickets fell regularly, and they were all out for just 204 runs. Trent Boult got 6 wickets.
With 239 runs ahead, New Zealand carried their 2nd Inning pretty intensely. They scored runs quickly and declared the inning 241/6, setting England a target of 481. Peter Fulton scored another century here as well.
So, with an almost impossible target ahead in the fourth innings and with almost a day and a half to bat, England planned to save the match, instead of chasing the total. England lost the first wicket early, but then their main target was to stay in the game.
Alastair Cook (c) - 43 runs off 145 balls
Jonathan Trott- 37 runs off 66 balls
Ian Bell - 75 runs off 271 balls
Joe Root - 29 runs off 79 balls
Matt Prior - 110 runs off 182 balls
Stuart Broad - 6 runs off 77 balls
Look at their effort. Especially Matta Prior and Ian Ball played for hours. Anyway, despite that Kiwis took wickets in regular intervals. They put pressure until the end, but on the other hand, English batters stayed in the game.
In the 139th over of the inning, with just 4 overs remaining in the match, England was going for a draw with 300/7. Prior and Broad were at the crease. But Williamson took 2 wickets in the 140th, making things interesting. Just 3 overs to go, and the Kiwis needed just one wicket to victory.
But Prior and Paneser held their nerve, with the last pair surviving 19 balls, where England finished at 315/9. It was a draw.
So, witnessed a classic game that revolved until the last ball.
See you at the next episode!! You can always suggest a match to discuss in the next episode.
src - espncricinfo
Thank you.
Best Regards!
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