Matt Henry’s – New Zealand crushed England by 253 runs at The Oval, routing the hosts for 209 on the final day after England were set an improbable 463. Matt Henry struck in a 48-minute collapse, finishing with best-ever match figures by a New Zealand bowler against England
The fifth and final day at The Oval didn’t even get a proper fight.
England resumed on 182-5 with a target of 463, an extraordinary mountain built on the momentum New Zealand carried through the match. Just 48 minutes later, the pitch stopped offering answers. The innings ended at 209, and New Zealand claimed a 253-run win.
At the center of it was Matt Henry, who took the last five England wickets and turned the chase into a procession. Henry’s spell was precise and relentless—5-3 in 5.1 overs—sweeping aside the tail in a way that made the final session feel prewritten.
The numbers don’t just underline dominance; they document it. Henry finished with 6-29 in the innings, after already taking 5-80 in the first innings. In the match, he posted 11-109—described as the best-ever match figures by a New Zealand bowler against England. It was also Henry’s first 10-wicket haul in his 35th Test.
England’s lineup buckled through a series of sharp, quick dismissals. Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Matthew Fisher and Josh Tongue were all out in two double-wicket maidens delivered by Henry. Root added only two runs to his overnight 75, beaten between bat and pad and struck plumb on the back thigh. He reviewed in vain before leaving with 77 from 145 balls, carrying England’s last realistic hope out of the field.
Henry had his first 5-for and 10-for milestones while the chase was still alive in theory, and he made it clear he knew exactly what he’d achieved—standing still and yelling at the moments as his teammates surged back in.
Jofra Archer’s end came through an unplayable shooter under his bat. Archer threw back his head and smiled after his two-ball duck. the kind of reaction that only makes sense when you can’t find a way to influence the ball. Fisher chopped on to his leg stump on 0. Tongue edged to first slip on 0. Jordan Cox. on 0 overnight. did manage a brief flare—25 runs in a cameo—before being bowled trying to sweep. bringing the match to its inevitable end. Sonny Baker didn’t score.
Henry also achieved a mark that only a handful of bowlers ever manage: he was the first to take out Root and Harry Brook twice in a single Test.
For New Zealand, the win landed with extra weight. It was only the seventh time the team has won in England in 95 years of touring. and only its second victory at The Oval. the other coming in 1999. England’s earlier success at Lord’s had set up the series tension. but now the overall storyline has shifted—sending the contest to a decider in Nottingham starting on Thursday.
New Zealand vs England The Oval Matt Henry Henry 11-109 253-run win fifth and final day Nottingham decider Test cricket