Last Update: February 17, 2023, 14:54 IST
Tom Blundell hit a century (AP Image)
The tourists took eight wickets in the second innings to take a 98-run lead with three days still to play in the fast-paced day-night Test at the Bay Oval.
Tom Blundell’s brilliant century in the first Test match played at Mount Maunganui on Friday put New Zealand back in contention.
The tourists took eight wickets in the second innings to take a 98-run lead with three days still to play in the fast-paced day-night Test at the Bay Oval.
Blundell’s career-best 138 resurrected his side from 83–5, taking them to 306 and just 19 runs short of England’s 325–9 declared.
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The delicate nature of the contest did not deter the tourists from playing their shots, although they lost opener Ben Duckett for 25 and Jack Crawley for 28 in reaching 79–2 at stumps.
Ollie Pope remained unbeaten on 14 and nightwatchman Stuart Broad on six.
Broad was given a late life when a top edge that flew straight up came between Blundell and bowler Scott Kuggeleijn, who were looking at each other.
This did not detract from Blundell’s whirlwind fourth Test ton – a mix of improvement and power off 181 balls, including 19 fours and a six.
It also continued the 32-year-old’s prolific form from the previous year, scoring 383 runs at 76.6 during a 3-0 series defeat in England last June.
Blundell shared a 75-run partnership with opener Devon Conway (77), but later made late stands with tail-enders Kuggeleijn and Blair Tickner – both on Test debut – making 53 and 59 respectively.
No. 11 Tickner contributed three runs as Blundell advanced from 80 to figures of three, accompanied by the roars of the home crowd under the setting sun, before he fell, caught and bowled by James Anderson. Was the last home wicket.
The wicket was historically significant for Anderson, who is on the verge of setting a world record for long with new ball partner Broad.
The pair have taken 1,001 wickets between them in the 133 Tests they played together 16 years ago.
He is tied with Australian legends Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, who took 1,001 wickets in 104 Tests together.
The 1,000-mark was reached early on Friday when nightwatchman Neil Wagner was fooled by a slower ball from Broad (1-72), who smashed him for consecutive sixes off the last two balls.
Anderson ended with 3-36, while Ollie Robinson claimed 4-54, his highlight being a duck-in-ducker that trapped Daryl Mitchell for a duck.
Conway started New Zealand’s fightback but lost concentration against a relentless barrage of short bowling from England skipper Ben Stokes (1-38) and hit a pull shot straight to square leg.
England were generally aggressive in the final hour under lights, but Tickner and Kuggeleijn, as new boys, got a wicket each.
Duckett was caught in the slips as Tickner showed signs of movement, before Crawley’s innings ended with six fours when his edge met Blundell’s gloves.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)