Last Update: February 28, 2023, 12:29 IST
New Zealand beat England by 1 run (AP Photo)
New Zealand’s win is only the second instance of a team defeating the opposition by one run
New Zealand ended the series 1-1 after defeating England by 1 run in the second Test match played in Wellington on Tuesday. After a first innings loss, the hosts staged a spectacular comeback despite the follow-on. The visitors put up a brilliant fightback on the final day of play with wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes bringing the team to the brink of a thrilling victory. However, the burden of his dismissals fell on James Anderson and Jack Leach, who could not get the job done. Neil Wagner dismissed Anderson to complete his four-wicket haul to hand his side a memorable victory.
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This is not the first time that a team has won by the smallest margin. New Zealand’s victory is only the second instance of a team defeating the opposition by one run.
Smallest margin of victory in Test cricket
| winning team | Oppose | margin of victory | venue | Year |
| new zealand | england | 1 run | Wellington | 2023 |
| West Indies | Australia | 1 run | Adelaide | 1993 |
| england | Australia | 2 runs | Birmingham | 2005 |
| Australia | england | 3 runs | manchester | 1902 |
| england | Australia | 3 runs | Melbourne | 1982 |
| new zealand | Pakistan | 4 runs | Abu Dhabi | 2018 |
| South Africa | Australia | 5 runs | Sydney | 1994 |
Also, New Zealand became only the third team to win a Test match after being asked to follow on. Surprisingly, the Kiwis achieved this feat for the first time, that too against a team that has done so twice in the past. In fact, in 1894, England became the first team to win a Test match after a follow-on.
England won twice after being asked to follow on. After the Sydney Test in 1894, he did so again on both occasions in 1981 against Australia at Leeds. A few decades later, India Had a great win at Eden Gardens and the opponent was again Australia.
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New Zealand were also part of one of the most tense final days of a Test match when at times both teams had victory within their grasp and even a rare tie looked possible. At the start of Day 5, a New Zealand win looked the most unlikely of all possible scenarios: it had lost the series-opener by 267 runs and was forced to go into the Second Test 226 runs behind.
New Zealand can now rest easy after saving their unbeaten run in Test series at home which stretches back to 2017.
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