England, NZ get points deductions for slow over-rates

THE HAGUE: England and New Zealand were fined 15% of their match fees and penalised three World Test Championship points each for slow over-rates in the first test at Christchurch, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Tuesday.

Although England cannot reach next year’s final at Lord’s despite their eight-wicket win at Hagley Oval, the penalty dropped New Zealand from joint fourth to fifth, a major blow to their chances of reaching next year’s showpiece game.

The teams were deemed three overs short of the required target and both captains, New Zealand’s Tom Latham and England’s Ben Stokes, pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the punishment.

New Zealand, the inaugural World Test Championship winners, need to win the next two matches against England and favourable outcomes from other games if they are to reach next year’s final.

The second test starts in Wellington on Friday.

In the first test in Christchurch on Sunday, England romped to an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and bring the Black Caps thudding back to earth after their recent triumph in India.

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Big batting, notably Harry Brook’s 171, and a fine display of seam-bowling from Brydon Carse, who was named Player of the Match for his 10-wicket haul, laid the platform for a comfortable victory inside four days.

Carse took six for 42 as the tourists dismissed New Zealand for 254 despite a defiant 84 from Daryl Mitchell on Sunday, and a team that prides itself on its ability to score quickly was never going to be too bothered by a victory target of 104 runs.

Jacob Bethell, who was making his test debut, scored the winning run to reach his a maiden half century while Joe Root, who was playing his 150th, chipped in with an unbeaten 23 to help get England safely across the line before tea.

Brook, whose monster innings turned the match decisively in England’s favour, was left padded up in the grandstand, his services not required.

There was one concerning moment for England when Stokes pulled up while bowling and handed the ball over to Atkinson to complete the over, although he later confirmed that he would be ready to go for the second test in Wellington on Friday.