England’s hopes of ending Ben Stokes’ captaincy on a winning note faded on the fifth morning at Trent Bridge as New Zealand completed a 160-run victory to win the three-match Test 2-1.The visitors registered just their fourth Test win in England, adding to their tally in 1986, 1999 and a two-match win streak in 2021.England’s hopes rested on Joe Root and Emilio Gay earlier in the day, but both departed in the fourth over of the day. Gay stayed behind for 10, while Root was dismissed for 18 by a sharp delivery from Henry Nicholls. Around the ground, the boundary boards displayed the message, “Thank you Ben Stokes,” as the England manager looked on from the dressing room after being dismissed for 30 on the evening of the fourth day.Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson slowed New Zealand’s charge with a seventh-wicket stand of 75 runs. Atkinson made 19 before Mitchell Santner caught him lbw just before lunch.Smith continued to bat after the interval, but his innings ended on 60 when Nathan Smith bowled a water ball at long-on off Santner’s bowling. The dismissal broke England’s resistance and led to victory for the visitors.Nathan Smith finished the series as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets. He was the only member of the New Zealand pace attack to feature in every match of the series.“It would have been nice to go out and win the series and win,” Stokes said, “but it’s in a perfect world and this world is not perfect.”Four years ago, at the same time, the Stokes-McCullum partnership started with a run of 299 against New Zealand. That victory became the first title of what the cricket world came to call Bazball. It promised fearless cricket, with a team ready to lose in order to win.On Monday, it was New Zealand that walked away with the list. A team that was swept 3-0 at the birth of the Bazball season returned to Trent Bridge to close with a 2-1 victory.The defeat also marked the first England home series to lose three or more Tests since 2012. They have now lost their last nine Test matches, adding to the pressure on coach Brendon McCullum and director general Rob Key.
