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Live sport on SN this weekendBrook makes Blackcaps pay as England take control on day two in Christchurch
Stephen Foote • November 29th, 2024 7:00 pm
Photo: Photosport
The Blackcaps have been left to reflect on an afternoon of 'what ifs' at stumps on day two of the second Test against England, particularly in the case of English stand-out Harry Brook.
The towering 25-year-old made New Zealand pay the ultimate price for four - count them, four - squandered opportunities to claim his wicket, with his unbeaten 152 powering the tourists to 319/5 at the close of play.
Brook - whose first reprieve came with just 18 runs to his name - was the most frustrating of thorns in the locals' side, spoiling an encouraging start to the day highlighted by debutant Nathan Smith's double-wicket strike before lunch to put New Zealand one foot in front.
But that feel-good factor now seems an eternity ago. With captain Ben Stokes also at the crease, England will start day three trailing by 29 runs, well poised to accelerate past New Zealand's total of 348.
Smithy recaps Day 2 from Hagley Oval | Sport Nation
The only wicket to fall in the final session was that of Ollie Pope's, who was dispatched by a jaw-dropping, one-handed aerial grab by Glenn Phillips to mercifully end a 151-run stand, an immensely valuable middle order stand for the visitors that swung the ledger decidedly in their favour.
But for as sensational as Phillips' snag was, it wasn't enough to atone for a miserable day in the field for the New Zealanders, with an embarrassing total haul of five dropped catches - three by captain Tom Latham alone - which may eventually prove Test-defining.
Glenn Phillips takes one of the greatest gully catches of his career | Sport Nation
Brook and Ollie Pope picked up right where they left off coming out of the tea interval, dictating terms to the NZ attack.
Dealing another weighty blow to the hosts' morale was a fourth shelled catch of the day, as Devon Conway gifted Brook his third let-off, unable to hold a two-handed chance at midwicket off Phillips' bowling.
Two overs later, Phillips made up for his earlier indiscretion by reeling in a screamer at backward point, snagging a rocket cut shot from Pope one-handed at full extension to provide the breakthrough for the Blackcaps.
Phillips' magnificent effort closed the partnership at 151 off 181 balls. Pope's departure for 77 left England at 222/5.
Photo: Photosport
Brook brought up his seventh Test century off his 123rd delivery faced with a cut shot to the rope at point - the 11th boundary of his innings - rubbing more salt in New Zealand's wounds.
Just when the Blackcaps thought the Brook situation couldn't have become any worse, it soon took another painful turn. Replays revealed he had nicked a leg glance off his pads from Will O'Rourke, which was spilled to the boundary off the gloves of Tom Blundell and initially given as leg byes.
After England surpassed the 300-run mark, New Zealand's - and in particular, Tom Latham's - fielding woes continued.
Stokes blasted a cover drive at head height to the Kiwi skipper, who got both hands to the ball but - yet again - couldn't hold on, costing Nathan Smith another wicket on debut.
Smith finished his first bowling effort with the red-ball for New Zealand with 2/86 off 18 overs, while Matt Henry (1/50 off 15), Tim Southee (1/54 off 16), and Will O'Rourke (1/82 off 16) claimed one apiece.
England seize momentum as missed chances haunt Blackcaps
The Blackcaps rued some costly missed opportunities during the second session, as England moved into the tea break with wind in their sails at 174/4.
Two spilled catches have provided a pair of lives to batter Harry Brook (54), who has combined with Ollie Pope (59)for a fast-paced fifth-wicket partnership of 103 (119 balls) to bring the tourists right back into the contest after a shaky morning at Hagley Oval.
After Ben Duckett departed for a handy - if haphazard - 46, the pair have upped the run rate to 4.20 to put pressure back on the NZ attack, who haven't had as much to work with under clearer Christchurch skies on a flattening pitch becoming increasingly favourable to the bats.
Resuming after lunch at 45/3, Duckett worked steadily to try and recoup some runs for the English alongside Brook.
But Will O'Rourke stepped up to ensure the earlier dropped catch off Duckett wasn't too costly, baiting him into a pull shot to Devon Conway at deep backward square to send him packing.
But at 77/4, another drop off the typically safe Glenn Phillips at gully handed Brook a lifeline, denying Nathan Smith his third wicket of the day.
With England warming to their task at 126/4, yet another chance went begging. Fielding at second slip, Latham put down his second of the day, this one much more straightforward than the first, at second slip to cost Smith again and provide one more lifeline for Brook.
Brook raised his half century in style, pulling O'Rourke over the backward square leg boundary for his second six of the day.
Two overs later, Pope joined him, raising his 50 off just 59 balls.
Debutant Nathan Smith strikes twice to put Blackcaps on top at lunch
Smith made a massive statement during an excellent opening session for the Blackcaps.
The seamer nabbed a brace of wickets in just his second over with the red ball, including the enormous scalp of English star Joe Root, reducing England to 45/3 at lunch in their pursuit of New Zealand's 348.
Smith struck twice in the pace of three balls to send the sides to the break, boasting early figures of 2/12 in just nine balls.
Nathan Smith takes two quick wickets on Test debut for New Zealand | Sport Nation
With nine runs on the board, Matt Henry was the first to strike for the New Zealanders, trapping Zak Crawley on his back foot and earning - after lengthy consideration from umpire Ashan Raza - the all-important raised finger.
A few overs later, Henry almost had Crawley's fellow opener Ben Duckett following suit, only for captain Tom Latham to shell a difficult chance at slip.
It was Smith who then stepped up to provide the next breakthrough, bringing his fellow debutant Jacob Bethell's knock to an end with a peach off the pitch to find the outside edge to Tom Blundell for his first Test wicket.
Just four deliveries later, he doubled his quote, causing Root to play a ball back on to his stumps to send the dangerman to the pavillion scoreless for what would have been a bitter tasting luncheon.
Is 348 a good enough total for New Zealand at Hagley Oval? | Sport Nation
Blackcaps' first innings comes to an end after Phillips half century
The Blackcaps added some valuable runs on the morning of day two, eventually ending with a first-innings total of 348.
Starting the day at 319/8, Glenn Phillips ensured the hosts were able to squeeze a few more out of the England bowlers, adding 29 runs in almost seven overs under overcast conditions that should be hugely encouraging for the NZ seamers.
Photo: Photosport
Tim Southee didn't hang around long on Friday morning, crunching a boundary off Chris Woakes in the first over of the day, before holing out off Brydon Carse three deliveries later to depart for 15.
Meanwhile, Phillips soldiered on past 50, showcasing some ingenuity along the way with a brilliant reverse ramp shot to send Woakes - who had an innings to forget with 0/70 from 20 overs - to the rope at third man.
Phillips' half century was his fifth in Tests through 22 innings, including five fours and a six, raised in 77 balls.
No. 11 Will O'Rourke played his hand smartly and was well protected by Phillips, who rotated the strike smartly to shield his partner from the English attack.
Chris Harris reports on the Day 2 pitch conditions at Hagley Oval
But he could only be protected for so long, as Carse found his length with a perfect yorker to end the innings, O'Rourke out for 0 from 13 balls.
Carse (4/64) and Bashir (4/69) both ended with four wickets to their name, while Gus Atkinson (2/61) claimed a brace.
Sport Nation has live ball-by-ball commentary of the first Test between the Blackcaps and England at Hagley Oval - available on all NZ frequencies and the new Sport Nation app - available on App Store and Google Play.
