England secured an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand on the final day of the third Test at Lord's, providing a fitting farewell for Ben Stokes in his last international appearance.
Chase completed with ease
Set a target of 182 runs, England reached 183 for 2 in 42.2 overs, with opener Zak Crawley scoring an unbeaten 76 and Joe Root contributing 55 not out. The pair added an unbroken 112-run stand for the third wicket to guide the hosts home with more than two sessions to spare.
New Zealand, resuming on 88 for 4 in their second innings, were bowled out for 209 shortly after lunch. Spinner Jack Leach claimed 4 for 54, while pace bowler Ollie Robinson took 3 for 43. The tourists' resistance was led by Daryl Mitchell, who made 72, and Tom Blundell, who added 51.
Stokes' emotional farewell
Ben Stokes, who announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket earlier this week, received a guard of honour from the New Zealand players as he walked out to bat. He made 21 off 28 balls before being dismissed, but his contribution with the ball—including a crucial wicket—and his leadership were widely praised.
"It's been an incredible journey," Stokes said after the match. "To finish with a win at Lord's in front of this crowd is something I'll never forget."
Series result
The victory gave England a 2-1 series win, having lost the first Test at Christchurch by 8 wickets before bouncing back to win at Wellington by 5 wickets and sealing the series at Lord's. This series was the first time England had won a Test series against New Zealand since 2015.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee acknowledged England's superiority: "They outplayed us in the last two Tests. We had our chances but didn't take them. Credit to England and to Ben for a fantastic career."
