England thump New Zealand by 323 runs to seal series win

England powered to a series win over New Zealand with an emphatic 323-run victory inside three days of the second Test in Wellington.

After setting the home side a mammoth 583, England battled high winds, the threat of showers and Tom Blundell’s swashbuckling 115.

Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse reduced New Zealand to 59-4 before Blundell lit up a grey day with his assault on off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.

The wicketkeeper hit Bashir for four sixes until his attempted sweep at the same bowler was brilliantly caught by the quick-thinking Ben Duckett running around from slip.

Ben Stokes ran through the tail for 3-5, his best Test figures in more than two years, to leave New Zealand 259 all out.

The margin of victory is England’s biggest in terms of runs against the Black Caps. It gives Stokes’ side their first away series win in two years and first in New Zealand since 2008.

England already had this match in their grasp on Sunday, when they resumed on 378-5 in their second innings and a lead of 533.

Joe Root, 73 not out overnight, completed his 36th Test century with a trademark reverse-scoop off pace bowler Will O’Rourke.

Root was out for 106 in the same over, prompting England to declare on 427-6. Stokes left himself unbeaten on 49.

One minor concern for England is the fitness of Harry Brook, who did not field on Sunday as a precaution over a sore ankle.

England will have the opportunity for a clean sweep in the third Test in Hamilton on Saturday. (BBC)