Ollie Pope tried to dab Neil Wagner past the slip cordon and failed, as he steered the ball to Tom Latham at second slip. A ball later, Joe Root played a similar dab and called for a non-existent single, leading to the run out of England wunderkind Harry Brook. Root thought he’d managed to guide the ball into the gap but Michael Bracewell at third slip ran across to his right, collected the ball and fired a sidearm throw to the wicketkeeper to catch Brook short. The 24-year-old trudged back to the pavilion without facing a ball.
The second half of the session, albeit, was far better for England as Root and skipper Ben Stokes built a solid partnership. New Zealand were also hamstrung by Matt Henry’s exit, as he struggled with a back problem. When opportunities presented itself, Root took his chances and earned rewards, bringing up a sprightly half-century while Stokes played a circumspect hand leading up to the end of the session.
OH MY WORD. WHAT IS GOING ON.
Harry Brook is run out without facing a ball…
England in real strife 😬#NZvENG pic.twitter.com/g3kC3ss4zA
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 27, 2023
