New Zealand Beat England by 160 Runs to Win Series 2-1 | 3rd Test 2026
New Zealand Make History at Trent Bridge — Stokes’ Farewell Ends in Heartbreak as Black Caps Win Series 2-1
3rd Test | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | June 25–29, 2026
New Zealand 438 & 288/9d beat England 354 & 212 by 160 runs
New Zealand win the series 2-1 and lift the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy
It was supposed to be Ben Stokes’ farewell party. It became a coronation for Tom Latham’s remarkable New Zealand side instead. On a sombre final day at Trent Bridge, the Black Caps completed a stunning 160-run victory to win the series 2-1, becoming the first team in history to come from behind to win a three-Test series in England. In doing so, they also claimed the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy — and handed Stokes a bittersweet ending to one of the most transformative captaincy tenures in English cricket history.
It was a defeat England could not have scripted differently even if they tried.
Series Context
New Zealand had entered this final Test needing a win to clinch the series after England had taken the opening match at Lord’s by 115 runs. The Black Caps levelled emphatically at The Oval — winning the 2nd Test by 253 runs — setting up a winner-takes-all finale at Nottingham.
The series result: New Zealand 2–1 England. History made.
Match Summary
New Zealand’s First Innings: 438
New Zealand’s first innings was built on a monumental opening partnership. Tom Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157) put on an extraordinary stand that completely set the tone of the match, leaving England chasing the game from very early on.
New Zealand posted 438 in their first innings, with Conway making 157 and Latham contributing 151. Ben Stokes, in one of his finest bowling performances, took 4 for 70 in a captain’s effort to stem the tide — but the damage had been done.
England’s First Innings: 354
England responded with a fighting total of 354. Ben Duckett top-scored with 113, Jacob Bethell contributed 74, and Harry Brook added 58. Nathan Smith was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, taking 4 for 91 in a display that foreshadowed what was to come across the series.
Despite a healthy deficit of 84 runs, England were still in the match heading into day three. The contest was alive.
New Zealand’s Second Innings: 288/9 declared
New Zealand’s second innings produced the moment that defined the Test. Daryl Mitchell struck an unbeaten 100 — anchoring the innings with brilliant composure — while Rachin Ravindra contributed a classy 94. Jofra Archer was England’s best bowler, taking 4 for 53 in an outstanding spell of fast bowling.
Tom Latham declared at 288 for 9, setting England a target of 373 to win — a challenging but not impossible chase for a side that has played some of the most aggressive Test cricket in recent memory under Stokes.
England’s Second Innings: 212 — New Zealand win by 160 runs
The chase began under pressure and never truly recovered. It was New Zealand’s all-round brilliance in the field that broke the day open, in particular their peerless groundwork. They pulled off four direct hits from the outfield in the course of their victory push, resulting in two astounding run-outs — the most significant of which was Joe Root, run out for just 18 by a stunning direct hit from Henry Nicholls at backward point.
The first run-out did for England’s only realistic source of resistance, Joe Root, in only the fourth over of the day. Once Root was gone, the innings quickly unravelled.
Jamie Smith provided the most resistance with a brave 60, but a brilliant diving catch at long-on by Nathan Smith from Santner’s bowling ended the innings in fitting fashion — sealing a 160-run New Zealand victory and their historic series triumph.
Nathan Smith’s sprawling, tumbling catch at long-on handed Mitchell Santner his second wicket of a decisive spell of left-arm spin.
England were all out for 212. New Zealand had done it.
Full Scorecard
New Zealand — 1st Innings: 438
| Batter | Score |
|---|---|
| Tom Latham | 151 |
| Devon Conway | 157 |
| Others | contributions across the order |
Ben Stokes 4/70
England — 1st Innings: 354
| Batter | Score |
|---|---|
| Ben Duckett | 113 |
| Jacob Bethell | 74 |
| Harry Brook | 58 |
Nathan Smith 4/91
New Zealand — 2nd Innings: 288/9d
| Batter | Score |
|---|---|
| Daryl Mitchell | 100* |
| Rachin Ravindra | 94 |
Jofra Archer 4/53
England — 2nd Innings: 212
| Batter | Score |
|---|---|
| Jamie Smith | 60 |
| Joe Root | 18 (run out) |
Foulkes 3/52, Mitchell Santner 2/54
Result: New Zealand won by 160 runs
Award Winners
🏆 Player of the Match: Daryl Mitchell (NZ) — 100* & 5 catches
🏆 Player of the Series (NZ): Nathan Smith — 68 runs & 16 wickets
🏆 Player of the Series (ENG): Jofra Archer — 25 runs & 11 wickets
Key Performers
🥝 New Zealand
Tom Latham (Captain) — Series-defining leader
Latham led from the front in every sense. His first-innings 151 was an innings of supreme concentration and authority — and his captaincy throughout the series was outstanding. Latham has now beaten both India and England in the last 20 months, cementing his legacy as one of the great New Zealand Test captains.
Nathan Smith — Player of the Series
Smith — New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker with 16 in the series — was the only ever-present member of a battered and bruised attack. In a team hit by injuries throughout the tour, his durability and skill were extraordinary. “Pride myself on being able to adapt, new ball or old ball,” he said after receiving the series award. He delivered on exactly that promise.
Daryl Mitchell — Player of the Match
Mitchell’s unbeaten second-innings century was the innings that set up the New Zealand victory. But his five catches in the field — part of a stunning collective fielding display — were equally valuable. A complete all-round performance.
Devon Conway (157)
A magnificent first-innings hundred that, alongside Latham’s 151, gave New Zealand the platform to control the entire Test. Conway is quietly becoming one of the most reliable Test batters in the world.
Mitchell Santner
His left-arm spin was decisive in England’s second innings, picking up two crucial wickets including the final one — Jamie Smith — to seal the series.
🏴 England
Ben Duckett (113)
A fine century in a losing cause. Duckett has been England’s most consistent batter throughout this series and continues to show why he is central to their Test batting plans.
Jofra Archer — Player of the Series (ENG)
Archer’s 4 for 53 in New Zealand’s second innings was a reminder of his exceptional pace and skill. With 11 wickets in the series, he was England’s standout bowler and gives them a clear weapon going forward.
Jamie Smith (60)
A brave, defiant knock in a chase that was always too steep. Showed character in defeat.
Ben Stokes (Captain — final Test)
Stokes took 4 for 70 in New Zealand’s first innings in one of his finest bowling spells as captain, and contributed a 30-ball cameo with the bat in the fourth innings. Stokes heads off into retirement knowing that, for four hard-driven years, his team’s primary aim had been a series win against a Big Three rival — on a wake of a day at a sombre Trent Bridge, the whoops of acclaim belonged exclusively to New Zealand.
Tactical Analysis
What Won It for New Zealand
New Zealand’s success across this series came down to three things: the extraordinary opening partnership at the top of the order, Nathan Smith’s relentless accuracy as their strike bowler, and their exceptional fielding — which came to the fore most dramatically on the final day at Trent Bridge.
New Zealand’s all-round brilliance in the field broke the day open. Four direct hits from the outfield resulted in two astounding run-outs. This kind of pressure fielding is not accidental — it’s a culture Latham has built, and it was the margin between victory and what might have been a nervy finish.
Tom Blundell’s keeping also deserves mention. Coming up to the stumps was a key tactical adjustment that pressured England’s batters into false shots. As Nathan Smith noted: “Tom Blundell really changed the series coming up to the stumps for us. It was on the fly. Credit to him for having the skills to do it.”
Where England Fell Short
England’s issue in this series was their inability to consistently restrict New Zealand in first innings. Allowing Latham and Conway to put on massive opening stands in both the first and second Tests was costly, and the same pattern — New Zealand piling on a big total, England responding but never quite matching it — repeated itself in Nottingham.
The batting in the second innings also lacked the intent that has characterised England under Stokes. Bazball demands aggressive cricket — but the collapse after Root’s run-out showed the fragility that lurks when key wickets fall quickly.
Historic Significance
New Zealand have made yet more remarkable history — becoming the first team ever to come from behind to win a three-Test series in England. This follows their equally astonishing 3-0 series win in India in November 2024. Under Tom Latham, the Black Caps have beaten two of the three biggest teams in world cricket away from home in the space of 18 months. The significance of that simply cannot be overstated.
New Zealand lift the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy — named in honour of two of cricket’s giants — and do so with a brand of professional, composed, team-first Test cricket that every cricketing nation should admire.
Ben Stokes — The End of an Era
This match will forever be remembered as Ben Stokes’ final Test as England captain. Whatever disappointment came with the result, the transformation Stokes brought to English Test cricket since taking over in 2022 is undeniable — the aggressive, attacking Bazball philosophy reinvigorated a team and a format.
“It’s been a nice couple of days in terms of all that. Would have been great to have ended differently with a result. Incredibly hard-fought game by both teams,” Stokes said after the match, signing off with the grace that has defined his captaincy throughout.
His legacy will be written not by this result, but by what he built. England cricket is in a better place for his four years at the helm.
Series Result
| Test | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Lord’s, June 4–7 | England won by 115 runs |
| 2nd Test | The Oval, June 17–21 | New Zealand won by 253 runs |
| 3rd Test | Trent Bridge, June 25–29 | New Zealand won by 160 runs |
New Zealand win the series 2-1 🏆
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Tags: NZ vs England 3rd Test 2026, New Zealand tour of England, Ben Stokes retirement, Nathan Smith, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Trent Bridge Test, Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, Test cricket 2026