Player of the Match
Player of the Match

6.30pm: Now that was a tantric hour (and a half) of Neil Wagner (and Ish Sodhi). Rarely does nothing happening appear so gripping, so congratulations to New Zealand for putting the Test and the series to bed. Miller has written up his report, and there'll be more odes to the game to come from Gnasher. Thanks for your company, it's been well worth the sleep deprivation and RSI. New Zealand's home summer is done with, England's set to begin in a few short weeks - we'll be back to bring you all of it, of course. Until then, from Miller, Gnasher and myself, it's goodnight and good luck. Cheerio!

6.15pm: Time for the presentations, Tim Southee is Man of the Match: "[Feeling?] Bit better now after that, rough couple of days but worth it in the end. It's come out nicely, good to get the whites on and see the ball move around it bit, good way to hose down the summer. [Boult?] We played a lot of cricket together, it's a partnership we enjoy, pleasing to be able to contribute to a series win. [Beating England?] Very special, first time in a while, first time for us, something we'll enjoy and savour for a long time."

Trent Boult is Man of the Series: "Phenomenal effort, credit to England, great fun to get over the line at the end. Myself and Tim, bowling together on these surfaces, we enjoy it. Sure we'll enjoy celebrating tonight. Test cricket is my favourite format, be nice to have a few more but been four goodies this summer."

England captain Joe Root: "Threw everything at NZ, very proud as a group and how we went about it, fair play to NZ. Bar that first inns [in Auckland] it has been very close, very frustrating that we let ourselves down. We've played some good cricket and showed what we're about. [Long time away?] You get used to it as a Test cricketer, you want to play in big series and we've had the opportunity. Hasn't gone as well as we'd liked. We'll take the good stuff from this week into the summer. Thought this was a great advert for Test cricket. Shame [not to win], but that's the way it is. Very proud of way we went about it, tried a number of things, few balls just out of reach and you need a bit of luck."

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: "Amazing day of Test cricket. First let me thank the England team, hard fought series and it was so close through these matches, for it to come down to a day like this, was really special for the format. We didn't get off to the best start, first two balls we thought it could be a tough day. Lots of steel shown by the guys in the middle order and the two guys in the last session, phenomenal effort, England threw everything against us and they withstood it, an unbelievable effort. The bowling attack has been brilliant. Fantastic series, nice to be on the right side. Would have been nice to have a third Test, we've had some great games, lot of good white-ball games, so on the whole a good summer."

Yes! The umpires are saying that's it... New Zealand secure the draw! Sodhi punches the air, walks off to generous applause; the eighth-wicket pair batted through more than 31 overs to seal the series, their first victory over England since 1999! Williamson shakes Sodhi's hand, slaps him on the back, beaming through his beard... England can't say they didn't have a fair old crack, but NZ hang on, with two wickets in the bank and just about nothing left in the tank (or that may just be me).

Here's the hero of the last few hours, Ish Sodhi: "Yeah, rapped, bit of drama at the end, Waggy was really good through those tough periods, he's a fighter and dragged me along with him. I was just think about playing straight, there were tough periods but we got through them. Waggy kept me going, five more minutes, ten more minutes. We're just rapped for the series win. My fingers are pretty sore right now, all that intensity out there and you take it on the chin. Series wins against England don't come around very often, to be able to contribute is massive for me. All I could hear was the Barmy Army at the end, their songs were ringing in my head."

124.4
W
Root to Wagner, OUT, skidding on, into the pads - GIVEN! Up goes Oxenford's finger, but Wagner reviews straight away! Looks like he got an inside edge on this, which will save him from lbw... but the rebound was caught at silly point, so he is out after all! Wagner walks off to a huge ovation - but has he done enough to save it?

N Wagner c Vince b Root 7 (107m 103b 1x4 0x6) SR: 6.79

124.3
0
Root to Wagner, no run, Root floats the ball up full, smothered
124.2
0
Root to Wagner, no run, tossed up and defended
124.1
0
Root to Wagner, no run, Wagner blocks and raises his ton

Last over of the day, I think. The sun sinking below the skyline, and my arm's about to fall off... Here's Jamie: "I take it that Wagner is far beyond a 'Cowan' by now?" Not until he reaches 100, fella

END OF OVER:
124 | 4 Runs | NZ: 256/7

  • Ish Sodhi56 (168b)
  • Neil Wagner7 (99b)
  • Dawid Malan4-1-9-0
  • Jack Leach32-15-61-2
123.6
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, tossed up full, tapped away
123.5
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, drifting a little straighter, more watertight defence
123.4
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, looped up very full on off, jams the bat down on it
123.3
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, tossed up, gets forward and blocks
123.2
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, goes back to defending

Darryl Warren: "Who would have thought we would get more than 98 overs in?" That's among the many extraordinary things about today

123.1
4
Malan to Sodhi, FOUR, drops short again and Sodhi boshes another pull through the leg side, wastes a few more seconds

END OF OVER:
123 | (maiden) | NZ: 252/7

  • Neil Wagner7 (99b)
  • Ish Sodhi52 (162b)
  • Jack Leach32-15-61-2
  • Dawid Malan3-1-5-0

Just a few minutes left in the day... The gig is surely up for England?

122.6
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, lobbed up full on off stump, defended with familiar tenacity
122.5
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, fired in flat, Wagner gets another good chunk of bat on it
122.4
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, round the wicket, pushed through and defended on leg stump
122.3
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, lobbed up full, Wagner dead-bats some more
122.2
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, steps across and pushes the ball away
122.1
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, pushed through and blocked on off

Still there? On we go... All 13 players packed in together around the 22-yard strip

END OF OVER:
122 | 4 Runs | NZ: 252/7

  • Ish Sodhi52 (162b)
  • Neil Wagner7 (93b)
  • Dawid Malan3-1-5-0
  • Jack Leach31-14-61-2

That's actually the final scheduled over, but because we're still in the final hour, England will squeeze in one or two more

121.6
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, tapped away coming forwards - no way through here, pal
121.5
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, gives it some air on off stump, Sodhi blocks
121.4
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, pushed through and dabbed away on the back foot
121.3
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, floated up full, Sodhi reaches out to defend
121.2
4
Malan to Sodhi, FOUR, dragged down, Sodhi latches on and belts the ball through midwicket - that's his fifty, he acknowledges the applause for a superb rearguard knock!
121.1
0
Malan to Sodhi, no run, floated up and tapped away

Dawid Malan back on... Never mind the players, I'm getting cramp

END OF OVER:
121 | (maiden) | NZ: 248/7

  • Neil Wagner7 (93b)
  • Ish Sodhi48 (156b)
  • Jack Leach31-14-61-2
  • Joe Root12-5-28-0
120.6
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, flight and spin, the ball ends up in the hands of short leg... but no bat involved! Flew straight off the pad
120.5
0
Leach to Wagner, no run, goes back and jabs the ball away

New Zealand 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st42JA RavalTWM Latham
2nd0KS WilliamsonTWM Latham
3rd24LRPL TaylorTWM Latham
4th25TWM LathamHM Nicholls
5th44BJ WatlingTWM Latham
6th27C de GrandhommeTWM Latham
7th57C de GrandhommeIS Sodhi
8th37N WagnerIS Sodhi
9th?TG SoutheeIS Sodhi