2nd Test
Day-2 Highlights:
England has put a strong resistance against New Zealand in Wellington
At The Stumps of Day-2:
England scored 280 (1st Innings) & 378/5 (2nd Innings), where as New Zealand scored 125 (1st Innings).
So, finally England lead by 533 runs.
Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell both scored 90s and formed an entertaining partnership, while Joe Root notched up his 65th Test fifty to put England in a commanding position in Wellington on Day 2.
Gus Atkinson rocked New Zealand early with a hat-trick, and the batters piled on the runs, leaving the hosts trailing by a massive 533 runs at stumps.
New Zealand, resuming the day at 86/5, lasted less than 10 overs before being bowled out for just 125.
Brydon Carse claimed the first wicket of the morning, producing an excellent delivery to clean up Tom Blundell.
It was reminiscent of his ball to Kane Williamson on Day 1, but this time there was no overstepping.
Carse then trapped nightwatchman William O’Rourke leg before for a duck.
Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith briefly fought back, taking New Zealand past the 100-run mark, but Atkinson quickly ended their resistance.
Smith was bowled by an inside edge, Matt Henry nicked a short ball to Duckett at gully, and Tim Southee was pinned in front by a full delivery, completing Atkinson’s hat-trick.
With a 155-run first-innings lead, England started their second innings confidently.
Zak Crawley hit two fours off the first two balls but was dismissed early, caught at mid-wicket by Henry.
This brought Bethell and Duckett together, and they soon had a crushing effect on New Zealand.
Both batters found boundaries with ease, with Duckett getting a reprieve when Tom Latham dropped a tough chance.
Southee wasted a review on an LBW appeal against Bethell.
The pair both reached fifties and were closing in on their hundreds when Southee struck, dismissing Bethell caught behind and Duckett bowled.
Despite the wickets, the break for tea didn’t halt England’s progress.
Root and Brook added more misery for New Zealand, with another partnership pushing the lead past 400.
New Zealand’s frustrations grew, and they lost another review trying to get Root out off a caught behind.
Brook played aggressively, pulling short balls and driving overpitched deliveries through the covers.
After a long spell from Glenn Phillips, Brook mistimed a lofted shot and was caught at long-off.
Root, however, reached his 65th Test fifty, marking his 100th 50-plus score, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s record.
England’s lead was nearing 500 when Henry dismissed Ollie Pope.
But Ben Stokes wasn’t ready to declare, instead smashing an unbeaten 36 off 26 balls before stumps.
Root finished the day on 73*, primed for his 36th Test century on Day 3.
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