3rd Test
Day-2 Highlights:
New Zealand team has taken control with a strong collective bowling effort
At The Stumps of Day-2:
New Zealand scored 347 (1st Innings) and 136/3 (2nd Innings), where as England scored 143 (1st Innings).
So, finally New Zealand lead by 340 runs.
Through a stellar bowling performance spearheaded by Matt Henry’s four-wicket haul, along with three-wicket efforts from Mitchell Santner and William O’Rourke, New Zealand bowled England out for 143.
They then added 136 runs for three wickets in their second innings on Day 2 in Hamilton.
Will Young (60) and Kane Williamson, who remains unbeaten on 50*, continued to frustrate England as New Zealand extended their lead to 340 runs by the end of the day.
Santner, along with No. 11 batter O’Rourke, started cautiously, adding 32 runs in 15.1 overs before Matthew Potts removed Santner, dismissing him for a duck as New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 347.
England’s openers initially played aggressively, with Ben Duckett cutting Henry to the boundary in the first over.
Zak Crawley then hit Tim Southee for four boundaries in his first over, and the visitors raced to 30 for 0 in just three overs.
However, Henry struck first, getting Crawley to edge a ball for a catch.
It was England’s highest opening partnership in the series at 32.
Henry quickly followed up by trapping Duckett LBW with a fuller delivery that swung in.
Joe Root looked in good form, scoring 32 with ease, especially behind square on the leg side.
Jacob Bethell, who had been under pressure from O’Rourke earlier, was caught slashing at a wide delivery.
The situation worsened for England when Harry Brook, the series’ top scorer, was dismissed first ball, chopping the ball onto his stumps as England slipped to 77 for 4.
O’Rourke missed a hat-trick but managed to remove Root, who played a late cut straight to gully.
Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope put on a 52-run partnership in an effort to stabilize, but Santner struck immediately, dismissing Pope for a catch to slip.
The wily left-arm spinner then trapped Stokes LBW with a missed sweep shot in his next over.
Henry and Santner cleaned up the tail, with the last three wickets falling for just nine runs, and England were bowled out for 143.
Despite a commanding 204-run lead, New Zealand opted not to enforce the follow-on.
Will Young got the innings off to a solid start, capitalizing on some wayward bowling from England.
The visitors, already under pressure, overcompensated on length, allowing New Zealand’s openers to score freely.
England had a moment of luck when Atkinson bowled Latham out, but Williamson responded with two quick boundaries, looking in excellent form.
New Zealand capitalized on favorable batting conditions, putting together an 89-run partnership in under 18 overs.
Young, who had been recalled to the team, reached a well-played 50 but fell for 60, caught attempting a pull shot to deep mid-wicket.
Nightwatchman O’Rourke didn’t last long, but Williamson reached his 50 in the final over of the day.
At stumps, New Zealand lead by 340 runs.
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