Key occasions
An odd apart. Anyone else having fun with the work of the Basin Reserve DJ? A little bit of Oasis, some Black Keys too throughout that first hour. A few missteps too however I’m all in with the Indie dedication.
England implement the follow-on
It gained’t be Crawley and Duckett padding up. New Zealand have been advised to bat once more.
WICKET! Henry c Anderson b Broad 6 (New Zealand 209 all out)
A combination-up between the 2 batters off the primary supply, with Henry not in a single as Wagner jogs midway down the wicket. No harm, although.
Maybe they need to’ve obtained that run although: again of a size from Broad and the ball climbs on Henry, with the ball popping off the shoulder of the bat to Anderson at quick third man.
53rd over: New Zealand 209-9 (Henry 6, Wagner 0) Wagner tries a reverse sweep however doesn’t get anyplace close to it, resulting in an enthusiastic lbw shout from Foakes. The tailenders survive as Leach darts them in, conceding one.
52nd over: New Zealand 208-9 (Henry 5, Wagner 0)
WICKET! Blundell c Leach b Broad 38 (New Zealand 208-9)
Broad begins with a bumper to Matt Henry, who hops throughout his stumps to get inside the road and swat the ball away to fine-leg for 4. Blundell, then again, tries aggression however can solely smash the ball straight into the fingers of Leach at mid-on.
A few questions on what number of New Zealand have to keep away from the follow-on – I’ve performed the maths and I’m fairly positive they should get to 236.
51st over: New Zealand 203-8 (Henry 0, Blundell 38) Leach returns instantly and Blundell nails one down the bottom – however the bowler does nicely to get his hand in the way in which. That’s gotta harm a bit.
fiftieth over: New Zealand 201-8 (Blundell 36, Henry 0) So Broad does the trick.
From Tom V d Gucht, simply moments earlier than 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, however we don’t make Cookball a factor.
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 4! And then Leach drops him! It’s a hoick throughout the road from Southee and a prime edge flies to high-quality leg the place the spinner can’t maintain on. And that takes New Zealand previous 200.
Ahhh, now he’s gone. Southee tries to whip to the leg facet however can solely hit it up excessive and into the fingers of Crawley at quick midwicket.
Ah, what do I do know. Stokes turns to Broad to attempt to cease the destruction.
forty ninth over: New Zealand 195-7 (Southee 67, Blundell 36) Tim Southee is on one. Robinson goes quick and Southee, backing away, offers it every thing on the pull shot to ship the ball over deep backward sq. 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 stay with Leach right here: preserve tossing them up earlier than Southee will get one fallacious.
forty eighth over: New Zealand 188-7 (Southee 60, Blundell 36) Another straight six from Southee! He’s tucked into Leach and brought 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 additional cowl for six. That was brutal. And then one other six! Southee goes straight this time spherical, and that brings up a half-century off simply 39 balls!
forty seventh over: New Zealand 169-7 (Southee 41, Blundell 36) England go up for a overview… Southee had moved throughout his stumps to Robinson for a leg-side whip that didn’t come off. Replays present an inside edge on it, although. Blundell then produces one other elegant cowl drive for 4, seizing upon a fuller supply from Robinson.
forty sixth over: New Zealand 163-7 (Blundell 31, Southee 40) Leach continues, with Ollie Pope good and shut at foolish level to Blundell. He’s not in for Southee, although, who’s clearly going to attempt to trigger some severe harm. Alas, no boundaries off this one.
forty fifth over: New Zealand 159-7 (Blundell 29, Southee 39) Southee offers himself a little bit of room for a wallop and smashes Robinson by means of the covers for 4. The bowler closes the over with a pointy bumper that clips Southee’s helmet on its method to Foakes’ gloves. An entertaining begin, this.
forty fourth over: New Zealand 155-7 (Southee 35, Blundell 29) Jack Leach will get a go from the opposite finish, and Stokes practically pulls off a stunner. Leach tosses one up, Southee comes down the observe to attempt to ship it over long-on for six, and Stokes, operating again from mid-on, offers it every thing, masking loads of floor earlier than unleashing the dive. He can’t nail the seize, although, with the ball trickling away for 4. Southee goes straight once more moments later, nailing it sweetly for one more 4. He’s correctly going for it, is Tim.
forty third over: New Zealand 146-7 (Southee 26, Blundell 29) Robinson begins with a no ball. Oops. Off the primary official supply, Southee shapes up for a whack, slapping by means of the covers for three – he could as nicely go for it. Tom Blundell receives a ripper to begin with, Robinson getting the ball to jag away from the right-hander. And then an edge. Blundell prods at one and it drops simply in need of Brook at third slip. The keeper-batter then produces a beautiful cowl drive, the ball racing away to the boundary.
We’re about to get going. Ollie Robinson’s obtained the ball, Tim Southee’s on strike. Let’s play!
A contented Jack Leach had a chat with BT forward 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 bottom:
If you desire a correct catch-up, right here’s Ali Martin’s report from yesterday.
Preamble
Ben and Baz’s present rolls on. Day two introduced additional pleasure for England, inserting them in whole management at Wellington. No, Harry Brook didn’t get his double, however Joe Root had his enjoyable, exhibiting off that reverse-scoop to complete unbeaten on 153 as England declared on 435-8.
The nice old-timer then made the contemporary cherry dance: James Anderson ripped by means of the highest order with three nick-offs to Ben Foakes, leaving the hosts on 21-3. He’s simply ridiculous, isn’t he?
Unfortunately for New Zealand, they struggled to repeat England’s homework from the primary innings, with Jack Leach (3-45) making certain there was no middle-order counter-attack. At 138-7, Tim Southee’s males are in all kinds.
Sadly, the climate’s been a little bit of a ache these final couple of days, with the rain interrupting proceedings. The forecast as we speak appears to be like higher because the day progresses – let’s hope there’s not an excessive amount of harm in the morning both.
I’ll be right here to maintain you firm no matter what occurs. Feel free to ship in an e mail/slide into my DMs. Go nicely!
Discussion about this post