Carse takes 10 as England win first Test

Brydon Carse and Harry Brook led England to an impressive eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Christchurch.

Carse claimed three of the four second-innings wickets England required on the fourth morning to end with 6-42, his maiden Test five-wicket haul.

To go with the four he took in the first innings, the 29-year-old had match figures of 10-106, the first away 10-for by an England bowler since Monty Panesar in 2012, and first by a seamer since Ryan Sidebottom in this country 16 years ago.

Daryl Mitchell clubbed 84, adding 45 for the last wicket with Will O’Rourke, to drag New Zealand up to 254 all out.

That left England a target of only 104, which they reached inside 13 overs for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Warwickshire’s Jacob Bethell on debut hit the winning runs in his 37-ball unbeaten 50.

Earlier, Brook’s 171 put the tourist in the driving seat at the end of the third day. His knock is the highest score by an overseas batter in a Test at Hagley Oval. His average of 89.40 in away Tests is bettered only by Sir Donald Bradman.

Brook added 159 with Ben Stokes, the England Captain’s 80 his best in Test cricket since the summer of 2023.

There was a concern for England when Ben Stokes pulled up during his fifth over on the fourth day, but the Captain said he will be fit for the second Test in Wellington on Thursday night (10pm GMT).

Stokes on Brydon Carse said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with Brydon [Carse] in my Durham days and I’ve always known his potential and his talent.

“So to see him come into this team and make an impact so early on is amazing. He’s an absolute workhorse and he’ll keep charging in all day regardless of whether conditions are in his favour or not.

“To see him get his rewards, walking off with six-for and 10 in the game is amazing.”

New Zealand Captain Tom Latham added: “Isolate the first two innings, that sort of surface, the position we were in, I was happy. We had our opportunities, on another day the catches go to hand and it would’ve been slightly different. That’s the sport we play.

“Some days it doesn’t fall your way. From our point of view, guys aren’t meaning to drop them, they are trying. Some days they catch them, other days it drops, that’s the game of cricket.”