‘Matt Henry’s catch was the key moment’ – Kane Williamson

Henry, the substitute fielder, on day four took a spectacular catch to dismiss the set batsman Kusal Mendis for 67 off Neil Wagner’s bowling.

Mendis, who along with Angelo Mathews, batted through the entire fourth day of the opening Test which ended up in a draw, once again looked set on the penultimate day, this time with his captain Dinesh Chandimal.

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🇳🇿 win Test series 1-0

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Together, the Mendis-Chandimal duo notched up a crucial 117-run stand, which lasted for 318 balls – giving Williamson clear “signs of a déjà vu” before Henry, in the second session, dived towards his left to take a low catch off Neil Wagner.

Mendis had to depart after scoring a gritty half-century, and according to the New Zealand skipper, Henry had done a ‘cool’ job for his side.

Williamson was all praise of his team’s combined effort, but had special praise reserved for Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls, New Zealand’s highest run-scorers of the series.

“So many contributions in this series and others that come to mind,” he said. “Tom’s been outstanding in this series in particular. The way he was able to maintain his focus in terms of playing each ball on its merit for as long as he can and not get ahead of himself, or thinking that he’s in, or he’s done enough, was great.

“The contributions that he and Nicholls made – they both scored big hundreds. It was required for us to get in that position of strength in this game.”