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England’s day again. Great sessions from the start for the visitors. Gus Atkison’s hattrick was the highlight of the day as it wrapped up the New Zealand innings prematurely.
Duckett and Bethell both caught a case of the nervous 90s and Brook and Root come in with handy 50s. England end the day with their lead over New Zealand standing at a mammoth 533 runs. It does not look positive for the hosts as of now. They could lose the series by tomorrow!
The skipper has come out with a plan. To just clear the boundary. Races to 21 off 7.
Pope has to walk now! Matt Henry returns with a wicket. Pope nicks one to Mitchell in the slips. Henry got the ball to straighten off the pitch. England now have lost half their side now. They have still got plenty to left to offer.
Ollie Pope departs! Matt Henry strikes as Daryl Mitchell takes a sharp catch.
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50 for Root! The 100th time he has reached this landmark. What an achievement. A freak of a batsman. Plenty of runs still out there for him.
Phillips gets the big scalp! Brook dances down the pitch to get to the pitch of the ball but mistimes it and it floats straight to long off. Nevertheless it was a handy innings. Ollie Pope next in for the visitors.
Glenn Phillips breaks through as Brook departs for 55, but England are effectively 461-4.
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Another 50 for Brook! He just bats, bats and bats. Slowly turning into England’s talisman. He should look to accelerate even more now.
Brook is approaching yet another 50 albeit this is quieter one than his pervious ones. Just the 4 boundaries and no maximums. The play has reached a lull of sorts as England are comfortable batting placidly right now.
Forget I ever mentioned that Brook was playing a cautious innings. He has picked up the pace as he always does. England are plodding away and piling on the runs on this seemingly helpless New Zealand side.
Root and Brook (especially) appear to be playing a more passive game than their other innings. Maybe it is because they wish to bat the entire day out without risking a lot?
We are back at Wellington for the final session.
As the second session draws to a close, England are too in control of this match to lose the plot even though they have lost two set batsmen. Brook and Root are out in the middle and they will not slow down the game any more.
New Zealand got the two wickets they craved for but England bat very deep and they must keep the pressure on the Three Lions if they wish to salvage anything from this match.
Southee the magic maker! Another nervous 90s case for an English batsman. Probably the most loose shot Duckett has played in this innings. Tries to cut and chops it onto his wicket. The experienced Southee is the difference between him and century.
Another heartbreak in the 90s! Duckett drags one onto his stumps, giving Southee his second wicket.
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Finally a breakthrough for New Zealand! Nervous 90s for Bethell. Went to play a shot for his big milestone but ends up nicking the ball to the keeper. Well played young man, finally Southee gets a wicket in this test match.
Tim Southee prevents Jacob Bethell from reaching his maiden Test century.
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Both of the English batters are closing on their individual centuries now. Bethell is on 88 while his partner is on 78. There is some grip in the surface which Phillips will look to exploit.
New Zealand have now resorted to spin from one end, that is of course Glen Phillips. Not that it is actually making a difference as England keep milking runs quite easily.
Audacious from Duckett! Smith tries to bounce him but he has Smith’s number on this occasion as simply lifts it over the keeper.
Duckett joins his partner at the half century mark not long after! Well played by the opener. Some of the drives he has played today have been marvelous. England seem unstoppable as of now.
Bethell reaches 50! His second over half century in this format. Entertaining stuff from the leftie. He has only utilised 52 deliveries to get to this landmark. Top, top batting.
We are back on after lunch, set to resume play after a session (and this match) which was dominated thoroughly by England. Duckett and Bethell will look to bat into oblivion as it is still day 2.
It looks like a different game altogether whenever England have batted in this series so far. Its the same pitch conditions but they seem to make a mockery of the New Zealand pace attack. Duckett and Bethell have taken England to a lead of 224.
Bethell nicks one down the leg side but Blundell even at full stretch cannot catch it. Another one for the kitty of dropped catches for the Kiwis.
Shot of the day from Bethell! Just caresses a good length delivery on the pads to the long on boundary. Pure timing on that shot. Class from the newcomer.
Crawley’s horror series continues as he does not reach double figures in this innings. Henry continues his good form. Lazy dismissal in retrospect as Crawley lapped it to midwicket. Just the start the home side had hoped for.
Matt Henry strikes again, dismissing Zak Crawley once more! Crawley now averages just 10.15 from 19 innings against New Zealand.
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WHAT IS GOING ON HERE! ATKINSON YOU BEAUTY. Traps Southee leg before and wheels away in celebration as he is sure of the wicket! What a crazy 5 minutes we have had. Excellent bowling from the visitors. Crazy crazy crazy. No other words from my side. New Zealand have crumbled away like an old sand castle left alone on a beach.
Wickets tumbling! Gus Atkinson claims a brilliant hat-trick as New Zealand are dismissed for 125.#NZvENG #gusatkinson #hattrick pic.twitter.com/L6NDdWKZC4
— Guerilla Cricket #GCFromHome (@guerillacricket) December 6, 2024
Atkinson says if Carse can do it, I can do it better! Golden duck for Matt Henry and England have done a demolition job here in Wellington.
