Tim Southee took two wickets in his final Test. Tim Southee took two wickets in his final Test.

Joe Root and Jacob Bethell made half-centuries but England slumped to a 423-run defeat in the third and final Test against New Zealand. (More Cricket News)

Having gone into day four on 18-2, chasing a target of 658 to win, England never truly had a chance in Hamilton.

Youngster Bethell, though, capped off a fine series with a fine 76, while veteran campaigner Root added to his record haul of Test runs for England with a 64-ball 54.

Yet once Root fell to Mitchell Santner, who was the star bowler for the Black Caps with 4-85, and the ICC's number-one ranked batter Harry Brook succumbed to Will O’Rourke (1-37) on one, any glimmer of a remarkable turnaround was extinguished.

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Tim Southee, in his final Test match before retirement, dismissed Bethell to take his last wicket, with Santner subsequently ripping through England's tail, though Gus Atkinson offered some resistance with a quickfire 43 that included seven fours and one six.

Two calls went against go against India, including a video review leaving coach Harendra Singh frustrated.

The tourists, shorn of the injured Ben Stokes, were bowled out for 234, as they suffered a chastening defeat at the end of a series they won 2-1.

Seeing a great off in style!Mitch Santner (4-85), Tim Southee (2-34), Matt Henry (2-62) and Will O’Rourke (1-37) leading the final innings with the ball. Catch up on all scores | https://t.co/gATDuNhj6S  #NZvENG #CricketNation  pic.twitter.com/xbGBqMTMAe

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 17, 2024

Data Debrief: Southee bows out in style

It has been a spectacular career for Southee, who signs off as the second-highest Test wicket-taker for New Zealand, with 391 to his name, behind only Richard Hadlee (431).

He took 2-80 in his final match of a glittering career, as New Zealand sealed their joint-biggest margin of victory (by runs) in the longest format.

They had previously beaten Sri Lanka by 423 runs in December 2018jili777, in Christchurch.