NZ vs ENG: Black Caps gain dominating edge after end of Day 2

by Tejas Rathi
New Zealand

New Zealand have turned the tables in the third and final test against England after the completion of the second day at Seddon Park in Hamilton. They are at 136/3 and have secured a lead of 340 runs to put them in a strong position to avoid a series whitewash.

The Kiwi side started the day on 315/9 and gathered useful runs from Mitchell Santner. However, Matthew Potts went through the gates of Santner (76) to bundle out the hosts for 347. The right-arm pacer was the team’s top bowler as well, picking up four wickets.

In response, England started their innings on a positive note and had garnered 32 runs off the first four overs with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. However, Matt Henry induced a leading edge of Crawley (21) to complete a caught-and-bowled dismissal. In the same over, Henry trapped Duckett (11) LBW to put England in a spot of bother.

Thereafter, Joe Root steered the team well by accumulating odd boundaries, with Jacob Bethell as his support. However, Glenn Phillips took a smart catch to send Bethell packing, as William O’Rourke bagged his first breakthrough.

O’Rourke went on to dismiss Harry Brook for a golden duck and made Root (32) caught at the gully region, as the visitors were reduced to 82/5.

Then, captain Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope exuded confidence to the squad with multiple boundaries, and gave a hint of the team’s revival. However, Santner spun the web to dismiss Pope (24) and Stokes (27) in consecutive overs. As a result, England were bundled out for 143, with Henry emerging as the top performer with four scalps.

Young, Williamson propel Black Caps to a big lead

Captain Tom Latham started on a fine note for New Zealand as he garnered runs in a comfortable manner. However, Latham (19) dragged Gus Atkinson’s half-tracker on to the stumps.

New Zealand's Will Young

Coming in at No. 3, Will Young looked solid with his drives against anything that was pitched up right in the slot. He stitched a 89-run stand with Kane Williamson, before getting dismissed by Ben Stokes. Coming as a night watchman, William O’Rourke (0) became another victim of Stokes.

New Zealand are 136/3, as Williamson remained unbeaten on 50 off 58 and Rachin Ravindra is at the crease on 2* off 10 at the end of Day 2. It will take a monumental effort from the English bowlers to stage a comeback on the third day and help England remain alive in the game.

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