Retiring fast bowler Tim Southee received a perfect sendoff from Test cricket as New Zealand clinched an emphatic 423-run triumph over England in the third Test on Tuesday.
It was New Zealand's largest Test win in terms of runs. Even though England had won the series with victory in the first two games, New Zealand's victory here lifted them to fourth in the latest ICC World Test Championship table.
England slipped to sixth in the table and now lie behind New Zealand (fourth) and Sri Lanka at fifth.
Southee took two wickets during England's second innings as he finished his career with 391 Test scalps in 107 Tests, teammates Mitchell Santner (4-85) and Matt Henry (2-62) did the most of the damage in offsetting half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (76) and Joe Root (54).
Chasing a daunting target of 658, England resumed from the overnight score of 18/2. With Ben Stokes opting not to bat after injuring his hamstring, New Zealand were needed seven wickets to seal the victory.
Root and Bethell made positive progress, bringing up a 50-run partnership inside the first nine overs and went on to put a 104-run stand in just 125 balls as both batters scored fifties.
England's brief spell of dominance in the sun came to an abrupt end when Root was dismissed lbw, missing a sweep off Mitchell Santner. Harry Brook followed soon after, caught in the slip cordon off Will O'Rourke.
But Bethell continued to counterattack, hitting three boundaries in an O'Rourke over as he surged into the seventies.
Gus Atkinson and Ollie Pope kept pushing the game with their bat till when Pope got bowled behind his back by Matt Henry, who missed a reverse lap. Santner then struck again by sending Atkinson while trying to hit another six.
Matthew Potts fell in similar fashion two balls later while Brydon Carse ran out to be stumped comprehensively giving Santner his fourth of the innings and seventh of the match as the visitors were bundled out for 234 in the chase of 658.
Santner was awarded the Player of the Match for his seven wickets and 125 runs in the two innings, while Harry Brook was awarded the Player of the Series for his 350 runs in the three matches.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 347 and 453 (Kane Williamson 156, Daryl Mitchell 60; Jacob Bethell 3-72) beat England 143 and 234 (Jacob Bethell 76, Joe Root 54; Mitchell Santner 4-85) by 423 runs.
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