Carse takes six as England claim convincing Christchurch victory
Cricket
Harry Brook's 171 in the first innings turned the match decisively in England's favour
(Reuters) - Brydon Carse took six for 42 before England comfortably chased down their 104-run victory target in the first test against New Zealand on Sunday to win by eight wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Zak Crawley departed for one and his fellow opener Ben Duckett for 27, but Jacob Bethell, who was making his test debut, and Joe Root, playing his 150th, got the visitors across the line before tea on the fourth day of the match.
Bethell scored the winning run with a single to deep square leg to complete his maiden half century in 37 balls, while Root chipped in with 23 runs from 15 deliveries.
Harry Brook, whose 171 in the first innings turned the match decisively in England's favour, remained padded up in the grandstand, his services not required.
The bowling of seamer Carse, who finished with a match haul of 10 wickets in only his third test, had earlier been key as England dismissed New Zealand for 254 to move the brink of victory.
"An amazing couple of days," said Carse, who was named Player of the Match. "To top it off today with getting a 10-fer and winning, an amazing feeling, and I'm very proud.
"We've still got two big games in this series, and we'll see what the surfaces are like going forward."
Daryl Mitchell frustrated England with a defiant 84, but it only delayed the inevitable after sloppy New Zealand fielding, including a flurry of dropped catches, had helped England to a dominant position.
"No one means to drop catches," said Black Caps captain Tom Latham, who was responsible for a couple of them.
"But I guess when you give opportunities to some quality players ... sometimes that can hurt you.
"We weren't quite at our best in this game, but we know how fickle this game can be, and we'll head to Wellington and stay reasonably level."
New Zealand had resumed in a parlous state at 155-6 with a lead of just four runs, and the writing was on the wall when Carse removed Nathan Smith and Matt Henry cheaply in one over to claim his first test five-wicket haul.
Tim Southee, playing his final series, hit his 94th and 95th test sixes to score 12 runs before Joe Root caught him at deep midwicket off the bowling of Gus Atkinson.
There was one concerning moment for England when skipper Ben Stokes pulled up while bowling and handed the ball over to Atkinson to complete the over, although he later confirmed that he would be fit for the second test.
Carse finally got Mitchell out with the help of a catch by Chris Woakes in the deep to give him a first 10-wicket haul after his 4-64 in the first innings.
The series continues with the second test in Wellington starting on Friday and concludes in Hamilton.
