England slumped to a 253-run defeat against New Zealand on the fifth morning of the second Rothesay Test at the Kia Oval, as the door opened for Ben Stokes to return for next week's series decider.
Shortly before play began, the England and Wales Cricket Board withdrew Stokes and Gus Atkinson from their county commitments with Durham and Surrey, a strong indication that the pair will be available for the third Test at Trent Bridge once the investigation into their curfew-breaking night out is complete.
What unfolded in the next 48 minutes suggested a hastily reassembled England team, showing five changes from the one Stokes led to victory at Lord's earlier this month, was in desperate need of reinforcements.
Matt Henry's Dominance
That was how long it took Matt Henry to reduce England from 182 for five overnight to all out for 209, squaring the series at 1-1 ahead of what promises to be a highly anticipated return for Stokes in Nottingham.
The home side arrived with their chances of victory all but gone, needing 281 runs for a world record chase of 463, but at least had the reassuring presence of Joe Root to carry their fading hopes.
When Root was trapped lbw by the relentless Henry in the third over of the day, with just two runs added to his overnight 75, the lights went out on England.
Henry finished them off with ruthless efficiency – too skilful, too consistent and too precise for a home side that has shown a soft underbelly since being reshuffled in Stokes' absence.
Henry's Career-Best Performance
The Kiwi seamer was imperious as he stitched together consecutive double-wicket maidens, starting by sneaking one past Root's front pad and into his back leg. Jofra Archer was next, falling for a two-ball duck as he lost his stumps to a delivery that kept low.
Henry bagged two more in his next over: Matt Fisher dragged on to follow his first-innings 50 with a nought, before Josh Tongue nicked the next ball to slip.
That secured Henry's first-ever 10-wicket match in Test cricket, and he went one better, ending a brief rally by debutant Jordan Cox by cleaning him up as he danced around his crease.
Henry took the acclaim with a majestic six for 29, leaving England with plenty of questions to answer on and off the field.
