England’s bareest victory of all margins by a single run at Wellington on a gripping final day was sacked by New Zealand, which saw an entertaining Test series end completely at 1-1.
Here, the PA news agency looks at other recent endings in Test history.
West Indies beat Australia at once – Adelaide, January 1993
In nearly 2,500 Test matches, it had only happened once before when Curtly Ambrose led the all-conquering Windies to victory on Australia Day. The home team rallied seven points out of 74 chasing 186. Still, Ambrose had the final say when Australia only needed two to seal a series win, arguably the last man Craig McDermott had the last word when he swung his glove, finishing with a 10-point game. But the Windies were victorious, and they did it again in the Test series to keep an unbeaten 13-year series alive.
England beat Australia by two runs – Edgbaston, August 2005
“Jones…Bowden…Going man Kasprowicz and Harmison did it.” Richie Benaud welcomed a legion of new cricket followers in arguably the biggest Test of all series. Similar to 22 years ago, Australia had avoided being a staggering seven to finish in the grandstand. But Michael Kasprowicz fends off Steve Harmison’s bouncer Geraint Jones, and referee Billy Bowden raises his crooked finger in a thrilling climax. The truth that is almost lost in the middle of the insane finish is that Kasprowicz should not have been given away because his hand was rubbing from club to glove. Now, in the narrowest win in Ashes history – in terms of runs – it’s only seen as a subplot.
England beat Australia by one goal – Headingley, August 2019
During Ben Stokes this time he fell on the losing side of an exciting finish, holding all the aces in the summer of 2019. A few weeks after his World Cup final prowess against New Zealand at Lord’s, Stokes produced what could go down as his masterpiece with an unbeaten 135 that helped England return in 359 to complete their highest ever running chase in the Tests. A 76-round nonstop stoppage with Jack Leach, the last man to resist Australia for 17 balls, did have its fair share of drama, but England scored a very convincing victory. However, Australia retained the vase after the 2-2 series drew.
West Indies beat Australia by one fort – Barbados, March 1999
With the dynasty of Windies collapsing around them, with Australia now the dominant power in world cricket, Brian Lara He took the years back with one of his best hits. Set 308, Windies went up to 105 out of five, but Lara was able to withstand the double threat. Glenn McGrathwho demanded high five and Shane Warne, heartless on the fourth beat. Lara’s 153 is not out but the Windies crossed the line after number 11 Courtney Walsh managed to keep five balls away. The series finished 2-2.
Sri Lanka beat South Africa by one goal – Durban, February 2019
There was only one favorite in this Test series, with Sri Lanka losing its strength after the retirement of the all-time greats in the previous decade. And as Sri Lanka fell to 226 out of nine in pursuit of 304, that notion was strengthened. But Kusal Perera’s undefeated 153 helped Sri Lanka win an incredible victory against all odds. His 78-year uninterrupted partnership with Vishwa Fernando fell as the highest-end wicket stand in a successful fourth-inning chase in world-class cricket. Sri Lanka triumphed at Port Elizabeth to become the first Asian side to win a Test series in South Africa.