|| AFP ||

New Zealand overpowered England by eight wickets in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday as they sealed a 1-0 series win with more than a day to spare.

Set a target of just 38 after England tailender Olly Stone was out to the very first ball of the fourth day, the Blackcaps finished on 41-2.

Stand-in captain Tom Latham, leading the team in place of the injured Kane Williamson, hit the winning boundary to be 23 not out after the first Test of a two-match series at Lord's ended in a draw last week.

Victory gave New Zealand just a third win in 18 Test series in England and a first this century after their 1986 and 1999 triumphs.

By contrast, this was England's first series loss at home since a 2014 defeat by Sri Lanka.

England resumed on the brink of defeat at 122-9 in their second innings, a lead of just 37 runs, after a top-order collapse that had seen them slump to 76-7.

Stone then fell for his overnight 15 when he edged left-arm quick Trent Boult and was caught behind, with James Anderson -- in his England record 162nd Test -- unbeaten on nought.

But the real damage had been done on Saturday when England's top-order failed in an innings where fast bowler Mark Wood's 29 was the top score.