Matt Henry’s career-best test figures lead Black Caps to win over England to level series

Monday, 22 June 2026

Second test, The Oval: New Zealand 391 and 362 beat England 291 and 209 (Joe Root 77, Harry Brook 58; Matt Henry 6-29, Kyle Jamieson 3-61) by 253 runs. Click here for full scoreboard.

When Matt Henry walked gingerly from the field on day one at Lord's, it appeared his series could be over after just four overs.

Eight days of test cricket later, the Black Caps bowler strode off the ground at The Oval to rich applause, with ball raised in his hand in acknowledgement, after guiding the side to a thumping win over England.

Henry took 11 wickets over two innings by the home side as New Zealand wrapped up victory in rapid fashion on the final day. The seamer grabbed the sought-after wicket of Joe Root with his seventh ball of the day and added four more for the cost of just three runs in 31 balls at the start - and end - of day five.

Match figures of 11-109 - his first 10-wicket bag in tests - became the best figures by a NZ bowler in a test in England as the visitors won by 253 runs to level the series at 1-1.

Back spasms troubled Henry almost immediately on the first day of the first test in the three-match series. He didn’t bowl again in England’s first innings and was well short of full mobility when delivering 11 overs in his second turn with the ball as the home side won a short encounter by 115 runs on a lively pitch.

The 34-year-old came through training - with the aid of a nine-day break between the end of the first test and the start of the second - to gain selection and his control of seam and swing proved too good for a home side which featured five changes from their winning XI at Lord’s.

They’ll switch notably again for the series-decider starting at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Thursday night (NZ time), with regular captain Ben Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson poised to return after missing the second test after breaking curfew following the first-test win.

But the Black Caps will be buoyed by a comprehensive performance against an England team which quickly lost some of the credibility they’d gained back following an Ashes embarrassment by winning the first test.

New Zealand were playing their first test since the sudden retirement of Kane Williamson after the Lord’s loss, and were massively bolstered by his experienced replacement, Henry Nicholls, making a century in the side’s second innings after Glenn Phillips’ maiden test ton batting first.

It was just the third NZ win in the past 10 tests between the two sides, their second victory at The Oval in as many matches - the visitors triumphed by 83 runs in 1999 when they last played at the London venue - and only the seventh against England in 61 tests in England since they first met there in 1931.

The hosts resumed their second innings on day five at 182-5, with minimal hope of denying NZ victory, but with the second-highest run-scorer in test cricket history at the crease, there was some hope from the home fans of a fighting effort.

But Root lasted just six balls before being trapped lbw by Henry, to start a hurried finish.

Stat of the day

Henry became the first bowler since late Australian legspinner Shane Warne captured 12-246 during the 2005 Ashes series to take a 10-wicket match haul at The Oval - and the first seamer since England fast bowler Devon Malcolm in 1994.

What they said

Henry said the break between the first and second test saw him try to regain some confidence in his body.

“It wasn't ideal and it feels pretty bad when you let the guys down on day one,” Henry said of his Lord’s setback after being named Player of the Match at The Oval.

“So it was great to come here and be able to actually get my quota out.”

Henry often bowled with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps, to stop England’s batters attacking.

“We actually applied it in New Zealand a few years back. We brought Tommy up at the Basin [Reserve]. Tim [Southee] and I were talking about it, just trying to keep guys in their crease for as long as they could because they wanted to walk out and get busy.

“Thankfully, having a world-class operator like Tom's huge, and he's always up for it as well.”