It was another interesting day of cricket as New Zealand are in commanding position at the end of day 2 of the 2nd Test match played at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Saturday.
New Zealand began the 2nd day play at the overnight score of 173 for 3. It was a very good beginning for England as Stuart Broad dismissed Tom Latham as he added just 5 runs. Sam Curran got the wicket of Henry Nicholls for 16 to put New Zealand under pressure at 191 for 5. BJ Watling and debutant Darly Mitchell played with confidence making the batting look easy. Both took New Zealand to 248 for 5 at lunch.
After the lunch break, Mitchell and Watling frustrate the England bowling line up with good defensive technique and hitting bad balls away for boundaries. Mitchell completed his maiden Test fifty off 122 balls. After a marathon of 205 runs in the 1st Test match, BJ Watling impressed again to reach his fifty off 180 balls. Stuart Broad produced a beauty to dismiss Watling for 55. Watling and Mitchell added 124 runs for the 6th wicket. New Zealand went into the tea break at 315 for 6.
In the third session, England pace bowlers troubled the New Zealand batsmen with bouncers. Broad struck to dismiss Mitchell for a well made 73. Tim Southee and Mitchell Santer scored quick fire runs adding 27 runs for the 8th wicket. Chris Woakes dismissed Southee for 18. Jofra Archer got the wicket of Mitchell Santer for 23. Sam Curran ended New Zealand’s innings dismissing Neil Wagner. New Zealand were bowled out for 375.
Tim Southee and Matt Henry were superb with their line and lengths troubling Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. Southee got the breakthrough for England dismissing Sibley for 4. Matt Henry bowled a beauty to get rid of Joe Denly to put the visitors under pressure. Rory Burns was dropped once by Ross Taylor at slips and then by Jeet Raval. England ended the 2nd day in trouble at 39 for 2.
England 39 for 2 in 18 overs ( Rory Burns 24*, Joe Root 6*, Matt Henry 1/10, Tim Southee 1/24) trail New Zealand 375 in 129.1 overs ( Tom Latham 105, Darly Mitchell 73, BJ Watling 55, Stuart Broad 4/73, Chris Woakes 3/83, Sam Curran 2/63) by 336 runs.
