• Source:JND
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Tom Blundell's courageous century went in vain as England's dominance ultimately prevailed to register a resounding 323-run victory against New Zealand in the second Test of the three-match series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Sunday.

England encountered unexpected resistance from New Zealand on the third day of the second test, as Tom Blundell staged a valiant fightback with a determined century but the dominant pace attack of visitors bundled out hosts for 259 runs.

Joe Root earlier secured his 36th test hundred before England skipper Ben Stokes declared on 427-6 to present the Blacks Caps with a mammoth target of 583.

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Blundell bucked his recent form with a 102-ball 115 but the damage had already been done to the New Zealand top order by England's rampant seam attack.

When Blundell was dismissed by a fine catch from Ben Duckett off the bowling of spinner Shoaib Bashir in the first hour of the final session, the writing was on the wall.

Stokes (3-5) brought himself on for the first time to remove Matt Henry with his fourth delivery and ended Nathan Smith's innings on 42 in his second over.

He delivered the coup de grace for England's biggest ever victory by runs over New Zealand when Tim Southee swung big looking for a six but only managed to find Chris Woakes.

Stokes paid tribute to Harry Brook, who was named Player of the Match for his century in the first innings, and Ollie Pope for the partnership that dragged England back into the match on the opening day.

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England had resumed on a blustery morning at Basin Reserve on 378-5 looking to quickly inflate their already imposing lead of 533 before sending the Blacks Caps in to bat.

The orthodox Root has not been the most natural player of the "Bazball" style of aggressive batting England have played under coach Brendon McCullum.

The 33-year-old, however, showed a real flash of creativity to secure his 127-ball century with a glorious reverse-ramp for the 10th of the 11 fours in his knock.

After Root edged behind for 106, Stokes raced off the field unbeaten on 49 keen to get his bowlers out and stuck in to the Black Caps. Woakes did the early damage by bowling the hapless Devon Conway for a five-ball duck and having Kane Williamson caught behind off a thin edge for four.

The impressive Brydon Carse chipped in with a brilliant caught-and-bowled dismissal of Tom Latham for 24 before giving Pope more catching practice behind the stumps to remove Rachin Ravindra for six.

Blundell's run-a-ball innings was a rare highlight at Basin Reserve for New Zealand, who had been outplayed by England with both bat and ball for all but the first session of the match.

(With Reuters Inputs)