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Henry strikes as New Zealand eye England series win
Matt Henry took three top-order wickets to leave New Zealand on the brink of a series-clinching win as England's batsmen failed miserably in the second and final test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
England, on a good batting pitch, were 122 for nine in their second innings at stumps on the third day – just 37 runs ahead of New Zealand with one wicket standing and two days left to play.
Even so, that still represented a recovery from an even more embarrassing 76 for seven.
Henry, one of an exceptional six changes to the New Zealand side that drew the first test at Lord's, took the first three wickets to fall en route to fine figures of 3-36 in 12 overs.
New Zealand are eyeing only a third series win in England after their 1986 and 1999 triumphs – an ideal way to prepare for their appearance in next week's inaugural World Test Championship final against India at Southampton.
England are facing a first series loss on home soil in seven years since a 2014 reverse against Sri Lanka.
Their slim hopes of setting a challenging target rest with tailenders Olly Stone (15 not out) and James Anderson (nought not out), whose England record 162nd test is unlikely to be one the pace great remembers fondly.
'NOT WHAT WE WANTED'
England were without injured allrounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer.
But, in England coach Chris Silverwood's first match in charge of selection, they also decided to rest Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes against the second-ranked test side in the world, behind India.
"It's disappointing," former England paceman Silverwood told Sky Sports. "It's not what we wanted.
"New Zealand have given us a lesson in how to be the number one side in the world."
He added: "We need to work on our batting, there's no point running away from it."
SUPERIOR CATCHING
Henry struck with just the second ball of England's innings when opener Rory Burns, who made 81 first time around, was well caught in the slips for a duck by stand-in skipper Tom Latham.
New Zealand's close-catching, far superior to England's this series, also accounted for Dom Sibley (10), well-taken in the cordon by Daryl Mitchell off Henry.
Specialist batsmen Zak Crawley made 10 and Ollie Pope 23 as their run of low scores continued.
Dan Lawrence, who top-scored with 81 not out in England's first innings, was powerless to prevent further collapse as he went for a duck, caught off left-arm quick Neil Wagner (3-18) by diving wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
New batsman James Bracey avoided a third successive nought in test cricket but could only manage eight before he played on trying to sweep left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel.
Patel was well used by Latham, deputising as skipper for the injured Kane Williamson. The spinner then captured the prize wicket of Joe Root for 11 when the England captain and star batsman was caught behind off an edged cut.
HUMILIATING SLUMP
England were now 76 for seven, still nine runs behind.
The slump was all the more humiliating as New Zealand had rested key seamer Tim Southee, with Patel and Blundell only playing after Mitchell Santner (cut finger) and BJ Watling (sore back) were injured.
Fast bowler Wood followed his first-innings 41 with a game 29 as he shared a stand of 44 with fellow quick Stone.
But a knock featuring five fours and a six ended when he skyed a pull off Wagner to Blundell.
England's 120 for eight promptly became 121 for nine when Trent Boult had Stuart Broad lbw.
Earlier, Broad took an impressive 4-48 in 23.1 overs but New Zealand still made 388 to lead by 85 runs in their first innings.
Ross Taylor hit 80 – the third score in the 80s in the innings – after New Zealand resumed on 229 for three, a deficit of 74.
ENGLAND: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (capt), Ollie Pope, Daniel Lawrence, James Bracey (wk), Olly Stone, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (capt), Devon Conway, Will Young, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult
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