Matt Henry's maiden 11‑wicket haul smashed New Zealand into a 253‑run victory over England at The Oval, leveling the two‑match series. Within an hour on day five, the New Zealanders dismantled England’s second innings, ending a 463‑run chase that had seemed almost impossible but the hosts' hopes evaporated halfway through the session.

Henry claimed six wickets for 29 runs, taking Jofra Archer, Matthew Fisher and Josh Tongue in back‑to‑back double‑wicket maidens. He then dismissed Jordan Cox and finished with 11 wickets, his best match figures, while England collapsed from 182‑5 to 200‑8 before the final over and the match ended in a rout for the visitors.

The win leaves New Zealand confident heading into the deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, while England face a tough challenge. Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson are expected to return, but the hosts must learn from a disastrous morning session that saw them lose 100 runs early before the session kicks off.

Henry's performance marks the biggest win by runs on English soil for New Zealand, and his 11‑wicket haul is the most wickets taken by a New Zealand bowler in a Test match. The result tightens the series and sends a clear message that the Black Caps can dominate overseas in the contest.