ENG VS NZ 1ST TEST England defeated New Zealand by eight wickets.England took a 1–0 lead in the series.

 Brydon Carse picked up his career-best Test six-fer to set up England's convincing 8-wicket victory, and a 1-0 series lead, in Christchurch on the fourth day of the first Test. Carse disrupted New Zealand's positive start with the bat in the morning session to help bundle out the hosts for 254 in their second innings, claiming three of the four wickets that fell. Matt Henry then struck in his very first over to dent England's start, but Jacob Bethell's brisk half-century ensured they were barely troubled in the modest chase.

Resuming from the overnight score of 155 for 6, New Zealand started the day with a positive batting intent and were going at nearly five RPO before Carse's double-strike saw England get rid of Nathan Smith and Henry in the same over. Both batters were trapped LBW as Carse completed a five-fer. Tim Southee scored all off his 12 runs in sixes, in a 13-ball stay but Gus Atkinson nipped that threat in the bud quite quickly.

William O'Rourke provided Daryl Mitchell the support to keep England at bay for the next 13 overs. Mitchell did the bulk of the scoring in their 45-run stand for the last wicket while O'Rourke played the ideal second fiddle to help New Zealand post a respectable 254, stretching England's target to 104 before, fittingly, Carse picked his Test career's first six-wicket haul to dismiss the all-rounder in an extended morning session.

Brief scores: England 499 (Harry Brook 171, Ben Stokes 80, Ollie Pope 77; Matt Henry 4-84, Nathan Smith 3-141) and 104/2 (Jacob Bethell 50*; Matt Henry 1-12) beat New Zealand 348 (Kane Williamson 93, Glenn Phillips 58*; Brydon Carse 4-64, Shoaib Bashir 4-69) and 254 (Daryl Mitchell 84, Kane Williamson 61; Brydon Carse 6-42, Chris Woakes 3-59) by 8 wickets