So easy for England

Score: New Zealand 409 & 161
England 526 & 45-1
England win by nine wickets

England roared to a seriesclinching nine-wicket victory over New Zealand at Headingley today after man-of-the-moment Geraint Jones grabbed another slice or two of glory.

With Matthew Hoggard picking up two wickets this morning and pace partner Steve Harmison striking once, Michael Vaughan's rampant side needed only 45 runs to win the Second Test and take a 2-0 lead in this threematch npower series.

That proved no real problem, even though Andrew Strauss experienced his first failure by edging Daryl Tuffey to third slip after making 10.

England's bowlers required only 40 more minutes to dismiss New Zealand for 161 and their batsmen had the final glory of polishing off the runs, in eight overs, with Marcus Trescothick pulling the decisive boundary off Tuffey. But it is keeper Jones who has savoured a Headingley match he will remember for the rest of his life. Yesterday, the 27-year-old marked his third Test appearance with a brilliant maiden century to destroy New Zealand's hopes of establishing a first-innings lead.

He was in the thick of the action again today, holding a fabulous one-handed catch to dismiss Scott Styris and then ending the Kiwis' flimsy resistance with a run-out, guaranteeing his man-of-the-match award. The only real question for England's selectors now is whether to pick Jones for their one-day side, as well as the Test team. But that can wait for the moment as Vaughan & Co enjoy another triumph to follow their 3-0 series victory in the West Indies.

They looked in real trouble here after New Zealand had scored 409 in the first innings. But, as so often in the Caribbean, England fought harder still when the chips were down and their performance both yesterday and today was clinical.

If any further proof were needed that just about everything Jones touched at Headingley turned to gold then it arrived with this morning's 11th legitimate delivery.