NZ Vs ENG 2nd Test Match: England cricketers continue their aggressive approach in the red ball format and it looks hard to stop them, especially the way they are playing.
The visitors continued from their overnight score of 315 runs for the loss of three wickets.
Harry Brook had a double ton in his sight on the second day’s play. But he was dismissed for 186 runs as he could add just two runs to his overnight score.
Harry Brook has also amassed the most runs after playing just nine innings of the red ball format.
He overtook the tally of runs scored by Vinod Kambli as well and he has joined the elite of batters who have scored the most runs after playing just nine test innings for their countries.
Devon Conway has also been named in that list alongside man greats of Test cricket.
After Harry Brook scored 186 runs, it was Joe Root who continued to build the innings and add more pressure on the home side, New Zealand.
Yesterday i.e on Feb 24 at stumps on the opening day, Root was unbeaten on 101 runs and today i.e on Feb 25 he added more 52 runs to his name. Joe was dismissed for well-made 153 runs.
The middle order was in search of quick runs after Root departed and finally, Ben Stokes decided to declare their 1st innings on 435 for the loss of eight wickets.
New Zealand would not be happy with their bowling performance especially when they had England on the backfoot at 21 for three at one stage.
Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers from the Kiwis side. He picked up four wickets and his opening spell was a good one which allowed New Zealand to dominate the Test match a bit.
But in response to 435 runs, the Kiwi batters were crushed by the England bowlers. They still trail by 297 runs and they have lost 7 wickets for just 138 runs on the board.
England is on the verge of yet another historic away series win under the leadership of the BAZBALL combo. After their heroics in Pakistan, Stokes and McCullum will also lead this series win for them.
James Anderson continues to impress even at this age and he is proving that age is just a number every time when he holds the red cherry.
Anderson has picked up three wickets in the 1st innings so far and he has uprooted the top order of New Zealand with the red ball.
Anderson picked up the wickets of the Kiwi opener Devon Conway for no score, Kane Williamson for just four runs and Will Young for just two runs.
While the preferred spinner Jack Leach too spun a web and bagged three wickets which helped the visitors to continue their dominance over the Kiwis on the second day’s play.
The rains had their say as well just like the first day. Day two of the second Test match was called off early because of that. But England is in a commanding position in this Test match.
Apart from that opening spell from Matt Henry yesterday, nothing has worked for the home side in this test match.
New Zealand is in a reeling position of 138/7 and they still need 297 runs to make the men’s mark in this Test match.
Tomorrow, the visitors will look to wrap up the New Zealand innings as early as possible and they should look to enforce the follow which is not done much in today’s time.
While New Zealand will hope that Tom Blundell, who is not out on 25 runs, plays an innings as he played in the 1st innings of the first test match.
