Recap: Brook and Pope help England close in on New Zealand

CHRISTCHURCH: After taking the final two wickets of New Zealand’s first innings, and beginning their own, England found themselves in trouble early, as they lost three wickets before reaching 50 runs. However, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope were ready and more than willing to save the day for the Brits.  

END OF NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST INNINGS

Brydon Carse took the two final wickets of New Zealand’s first innings early in the morning, beginning with the dismissal of Tim Southee who tried his hand at hitting one over the boundary, only to find Gus Atkinson at deep square who took the catch. Soon after, a Yorker to William O’Rourke took out the off stump, as the Kiwi missed his shot. That ended the innings for New Zealand, but not before Glenn Phillips brought up his fifth test century, as the Black Cap’s batter scored 58 runs off 87 deliveries.

ENGLAND’S FIRST INNINGS

England had a rough start, as opener Zac Crawley was sent off for a duck in the fourth over of the match. Matt Henry would be the one to take the wicket, as Crawley whiffed his attempt at a straight drive, leaving his pad defenceless as the delivery struck it.

It would only get direr for England in the 15th over, as two wickets fell soon after each other. First, it would be Jacob Bethell, who only managed to score ten runs off 34 deliveries. It would be the English debutant, Nathan Smith, who would get his first two wickets in tests. His maiden wicket would feature debutant on debutant violence, as New Zealand newcomer Jacob Bethell was sent off after failing to defend the delivery from Smith, which took an outside edge on its way to wicket-keeper Tom Blundell. Smith’s next wicket would send off England’s leading test run scorer, Joe Root, on a delivery that resembled a game of pinball, as it ricocheted off Root’s bat, then his back pad, and finally onto the stumps.

Recap: New Zealand at 319 for eight at end of day one

O’Rourke would get his first wicket next, and it would send off Ben Duckett, who was doing his best to stabilise a crumbling England side. He was dismissed just four runs off 13th test half century, as an excited, and a little unhinged, Duckett swung for the fences again, instead only getting the top edge of his bat as the ball popped up to Devon Conway.

Just as the sense of dread was beginning to permeate through England’s Pavilion, in came Ollie Pope, who along with Harry Brook, put on an incredible partnership of 151 runs off 188 balls. Seventy-seven of those runs would come from Ollie Pope, which he made off 98 deliveries, hitting eight fours along the way. However, England got another breakthrough in the 53rd over as they sent the English wicket-keeper off the field. It was Tim Southee who took the wicket, but it was Glenn Phillips who made the unbelievable diving catch. Pope tried cut the ball through backward point, but as the ball hurtled through the air, Phillips dove, taking an absolutely magnificent catch.

Despite bringing an end to what was a devastating partnership, New Zealand still had to deal with Harry Brook, who showed no signs of slowing down. Brook brought up his seventh test century, and his third of the year, in the 61st over in style, with a four.

Brook remains not out with a score of 132 runs at the end of day 2. Alongside him is England skipper Ben Stokes, who is closing in on a half century, with a score of 37 runs. England recovered well after being losing their third wicket before they reached 50 runs, and now only trail by 29 runs.

Recap: Pakistan win third ODI and series against Zimbabwe