1st Test
Day-2 Highlights:
Harry Brook’s unbeaten 132 runs has helped the England team to recover from the difficult situation
At The Stumps of Day-2:
England scored 319/5 (1st Innings), where as New Zealand scored 348 (1st Innings).
So, finally England trail by 29 runs.
Harry Brook scored his seventh century in just his 22nd Test match, helping England recover from an early wobble and close in on New Zealand’s first-innings total of 348.
Brook, who benefited from three dropped catches, finished the day unbeaten on 132, sharing significant partnerships with Ollie Pope (77) and Ben Stokes (37*).
England reached 319/5 at the end of the second day’s play in Christchurch, still 29 runs behind, with the second new ball just six overs away.
The conditions on day two were markedly different from the previous day’s heat, with cooler, overcast weather offering greater assistance to the bowlers.
This led to more mistakes from the batters—England’s false shot percentage after 15 overs was around 30%, compared to New Zealand’s 15.7%.
Before England could take advantage of these conditions, New Zealand’s last two wickets added 29 runs, with Glenn Phillips’ knock taking him from 41 to 58*.
Brydon Carse then dismissed No.11 Will O’Rourke to finish with career-best figures of 4 for 64, ending New Zealand’s innings at 348.
England’s chase began poorly with Zak Crawley falling to Matt Henry, and Ben Duckett surviving a dropped catch before being dismissed for 46.
Debutants Jacob Bethell and Nathan Smith both faced challenges, with Bethell dismissed for 10 and Joe Root falling for a duck.
England were in trouble at 45 for 3 and then 71 for 4 after Duckett’s dismissal.
However, Brook and Pope rebuilt with a strong partnership, benefiting from more fielding mistakes, including another dropped catch by Tom Latham off Brook.
The pair guided England to 174/4, halfway to New Zealand’s total.
Despite New Zealand eventually holding on to a catch to dismiss Pope, Brook continued to thrive, reaching his century off 122 balls.
Brook and Stokes then added 97 runs for the sixth wicket, bringing the deficit down to just 29 runs by the end of the day.
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