New Zealand and England’s second Test came down to an exciting final run, and the Kiwis managed to win by just one run. New Zealand had given England a goal of 258 runs to win the game on the final day after being asked to follow on. 

However, when Joe Root and Ben Stokes were in the centre and putting on a 121-run partnership, the visitors appeared to be well on their way to victory.

Neil Wagner then stepped up for the Kiwis at that crucial moment. Before holding onto two important catches in the deep to dismiss Stuart Broad and Ben Foakes, the left-arm pacer, who had already taken four wickets in the game, dismissed both Root and Stokes.

James Anderson smashed a boundary off Wagner to reduce the equation to four runs off three balls with just two runs still required for victory. 

The Kiwi pacer, however, emerged victorious when he bowled Anderson down the leg side to give his squad an unforgettable victory.

The fact that New Zealand had been asked to follow on made the victory even more noteworthy because it was only the fourth time in the annals of Test cricket that a team had triumphed after being asked to do so. 

The West Indies victory over Australia in Adelaide in 1993 was the first occasion a team had won a Test by a solitary run.

The win resulted in a 1-1 draw in the two-match Test series between the two teams, with England having won the opening match in Mount Maunganui by a score of 267 runs. For the Kiwi fans, who saw one of the most thrilling finishes to a Test match in recent memory, the second Test, however, will be recalled for years to come.

There were many heroes for the Kiwi squad that day, with Wagner’s heroics being the most notable display. But Tim Southee, who claimed five wickets in the first innings, and BJ Watling, whose valiant 50 in the second innings helped secure the win, also deserve praise.

Overall, the second Test between England and New Zealand was a memorable game that will be remembered for its exhilarating finish. Tim Southee’s five-wicket haul, BJ Watling’s tenacious innings, and Neil Wagner’s heroics with the bat and ball all contributed to New Zealand’s historic win. 

The game also marked the second time a team won a Test by a single run and the fourth time in the annals of Test cricket that a team won a match after being asked to follow on. For years to come, both teams’ supporters will treasure their recollections of this thrilling game.

NZ vs ENG: Twitter Reactions

Virat Kohli announced that he will quit RCB Captaincy, but will continue to play in RCB till his retirement from all formats of the cricket game.

Virat Kohli recently announced that he will step down as Royal Challengers Bangalore Skipper after the current IPL season. This news has generated a lot of curiosity in everyone’s mind and it raises the question: Who will replace Kohli and lead RCB from the next season onwards?

Kohli expressed his statement through a video message that was officially posted on RCBs Twitter handle. He stated – “This is going to be my last leg in the IPL as captain of RCB. I have to manage my workload which has been immense over the last so many years and I won’t be able to continue to commit to the responsibilities that I am fulfilling and I felt that I needed the space to refresh and regrow, also understanding that RCB is gonna go through a transitional phase with the big auction coming next year”. “It’s been a great journey of 9 years of joy, frustration, moments of happiness as well as sadness. “I can’t think of myself  being in any other team than RCB and that has been my commitment from day 1. “I will continue to be a RCB player till I play my last game in the IPL”. “I would like to thank the RCB management, coaches, support staff, players and RCB fans from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and believing in me relentlessly and unconditionally” – Kohli concluded. 

Earlier also, Virat had already announced he will quit from the captaincy of India after the T20 World Cup which is all set to begin at Dubai in October. He has led Bangalore since 2013 but has not won a single IPL title yet . Bangalore is currently at the third position in the points table of IPL 2021, after winning five of its seven games in India before the tournament got postponed to September due to Covid Pandemic.