Key events
51st over: New Zealand 203-8 (Henry 0, Blundell 38) Leach returns immediately and Blundell nails one down the ground – but the bowler does well to get his hand in the way. That’s gotta hurt a bit.
50th over: New Zealand 201-8 (Blundell 36, Henry 0) So Broad does the trick.
From Tom V d Gucht, just moments before Southee fell. “Although Southee is a talented and threatening late-order hitter, it feels a bit like Baz Ball is slipping into Rootball and Cookball whereby we struggle to finish off troublesome opposition who wrack up annoying, quickly scored runs- ala Tino Best….” I’m sorry, but we are not making Cookball a thing.
WICKET! Southee c Crawley b Broad 73 (New Zealand 201-8)
Southee doesn’t care – he whacks Broad’s first ball over mid-off for four! And then Leach drops him! It’s a hoick across the line from Southee and a top edge flies to fine leg where the spinner can’t hold on. And that takes New Zealand past 200.
Ahhh, now he’s gone. Southee tries to whip to the leg side but can only hit it up high and into the hands of Crawley at short midwicket.
Ah, what do I know. Stokes turns to Broad to try and stop the destruction.
49th over: New Zealand 195-7 (Southee 67, Blundell 36) Tim Southee is on one. Robinson goes short and Southee, backing away, gives it everything on the pull shot to send the ball over deep backward square for six.
“How close will Stokes want to get to the follow-on mark before he revises his strategy?” writes John Starbuck. “Nerves, but not just yet.” I reckon he’s going to stick with Leach here: keep tossing them up before Southee gets one wrong.
48th over: New Zealand 188-7 (Southee 60, Blundell 36) Another straight six from Southee! He’s tucked into Leach and taken him for 19 in the over.
Half-century for Tim Southee
Huuuuuuuge. Southee comes down the pitch to Leach and whacks the left-arm tweaker over extra cover for six. That was brutal. And then another six! Southee goes straight this time round, and that brings up a half-century off just 39 balls!
47th over: New Zealand 169-7 (Southee 41, Blundell 36) England go up for a review… Southee had moved across his stumps to Robinson for a leg-side whip that didn’t come off. Replays show an inside edge on it, though. Blundell then produces another sublime cover drive for four, seizing upon a fuller delivery from Robinson.
46th over: New Zealand 163-7 (Blundell 31, Southee 40) Leach continues, with Ollie Pope nice and close at silly point to Blundell. He’s not in for Southee, though, who’s obviously going to try and cause some serious damage. Alas, no boundaries off this one.
45th over: New Zealand 159-7 (Blundell 29, Southee 39) Southee gives himself a bit of room for a wallop and smashes Robinson through the covers for four. The bowler closes the over with a sharp bumper that clips Southee’s helmet on its way to Foakes’ gloves. An entertaining start, this.
44th over: New Zealand 155-7 (Southee 35, Blundell 29) Jack Leach gets a go from the other end, and Stokes nearly pulls off a stunner. Leach tosses one up, Southee comes down the track to try and send it over long-on for six, and Stokes, running back from mid-on, gives it everything, covering plenty of ground before unleashing the dive. He can’t nail the grab, though, with the ball trickling away for four. Southee goes straight again moments later, nailing it sweetly for another four. He’s properly going for it, is Tim.
43rd over: New Zealand 146-7 (Southee 26, Blundell 29) Robinson begins with a no ball. Oops. Off the first legitimate delivery, Southee shapes up for a whack, slapping through the covers for three – he may as well go for it. Tom Blundell receives a ripper to start with, Robinson getting the ball to jag away from the right-hander. And then an edge. Blundell prods at one and it drops just short of Brook at third slip. The keeper-batter then produces a gorgeous cover drive, the ball racing away to the boundary.
We’re about to get going. Ollie Robinson’s got the ball, Tim Southee’s on strike. Let’s play!
A happy Jack Leach had a chat with BT ahead of play: “Stokesy and Baz are definitely pushing me to bowl with that freedom and look to take wickets, and I’m still on that journey I feel. Yesterday was a real nice experience and obviously look to keep that going. I guess it’s a new way of thinking, I’m always looking to create chances, I’m really enjoying that side of things.”
News from the ground:
If you want a proper catch-up, here’s Ali Martin’s report from yesterday.
Preamble
Ben and Baz’s show rolls on. Day two brought further joy for England, placing them in total control at Wellington. No, Harry Brook didn’t get his double, but Joe Root had his fun, showing off that reverse-scoop to finish unbeaten on 153 as England declared on 435-8.
The great old-timer then made the fresh cherry dance: James Anderson ripped through the top order with three nick-offs to Ben Foakes, leaving the hosts on 21-3. He’s just ridiculous, isn’t he?
Unfortunately for New Zealand, they struggled to copy England’s homework from the first innings, with Jack Leach (3-45) ensuring there was no middle-order counter-attack. At 138-7, Tim Southee’s men are in all sorts.
Sadly, the weather’s been a bit of a pain these last couple of days, with the rain interrupting proceedings. The forecast today looks better as the day progresses – let’s hope there’s not too much damage in the morning either.
I’ll be here to keep you company regardless of what happens. Feel free to send in an email/slide into my DMs. Go well!
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