New Zealand thrash England in final Test with injured Ben Stokes left 'incredibly frustrated' despite series victory

England ended the year by suffering a resounding defeat to New Zealand in the third and final Test in Hamilton on Tuesday as captain Ben Stokes, who suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury during the match, was left to reflect on feeling "incredibly frustrated" as a result. England still recorded a 2-1 series victory, but it has been overshadowed by the repeat injury being felt by Stokes.

England suffered an emphatic defeat on day four of the third and final Test match in Hamilton as New Zealand recorded a comprehensive consolation victory. The tourists still won the series 2-1.

Ben Stokes' side, who had been set a wild 658 for victory, were bowled out for just 234 on Tuesday afternoon to fall short by an enormous 423 runs.

Jacob Bethell was a bright spark for England despite the match situation as he plundered 76 runs from 96 balls before being eventually dismissed by Tim Southee, who headed off into retirement after the match.

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Joe Root added 54 runs off 64 balls, while Gus Atkinson added 43 runs off 41 balls lower down the order to slightly prolong the match for the crowd at Seddon Park.

Ultimately, England's final four wickets fell for just 19 runs to hand New Zealand a crushing victory to end the series.

For the 36-year-old Southee, who led his victorious team off the field, it brought to an end a 107-Test career in which he took 391 wickets over 16 years.

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Stokes still received the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy after the conclusion of the match with England having clinched a 2-1 series victory, but it was very much overshadowed by the latest hamstring injury he suffered on day three.

The 33-year-old, who did not bat in England's second innings, will have a scan on his hamstring on Wednesday after he limped off the field on Monday.

"There's no doubt I was incredibly frustrated last night, in particular, with how much graft I'd put in until then," Stokes told the BBC. "I felt so good about everything. I felt my rhythm was back with the ball, I bowled a lot of overs, my body was feeling good.

Eyes ‘moisten’ and ‘emotions flow’ as Southee leads New Zealand from field

Video credit: TNT Sports

"The first time I feel like a young man again is when I pick something else up.

"I'm obviously very disappointed, but every setback I come back stronger.

"There's no doubt I'll be going away from here, working [hard] as I always do and getting myself back to where I was in this game.

"It's just one of those unfortunate things. I ain't holding back.

"Every time you walk out on the field you're at risk of injury. You can't play for anything in this game."

England next head into their white-ball schedule after Christmas before taking on Zimbabwe in Test match action in May.

After that, England will take on India at home next summer before embarking upon the Ashes series in Australia.

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