MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Tom Blundell struck a superb century to reel in England on day two of the primary pink ball Take a look at in Mount Maunganui on Friday however the wicketkeeper was left red-faced after costing New Zealand a late wicket within the night session. Blundell’s 138 from 181 balls on a wonderful day at Bay Oval drove New Zealand to 306 of their reply to England’s declared first innings complete of 325 for 9. England had been 79 for 2 at stumps of their second innings, having misplaced openers Zak Crawley (28) and Ben Duckett (25) however pushed their result in 98 runs beneath the floodlights.
Crawley and Duckett raced to a fifty-run partnership as New Zealand’s quicks derived little from the pink ball that had been a swinging menace on the opening evening. Nevertheless, Blair Tickner made the breakthrough by having Duckett edge to Tom Latham at second slip earlier than Crawley was caught behind with a backside edge off Scott Kuggeleijn. A mixture-up between Blundell and Kuggeleijn value New Zealand a 3rd wicket when a scoreless Stuart Broad top-edged into the evening sky. As the person with the gloves, Blundell ought to have taken it however the ball dropped harmlessly, permitting nightwatchman Broad to walk off six not out, with quantity three Ollie Pope on 14. Although the wicket went begging, New Zealand had Blundell to thank for placing the match on degree phrases after the hosts had been dominated on day one and slumped to 83 for 5 on day two.
The century was one other little bit of pleasure for Blundell who welcomed his second baby into the world final week. He and Devon Conway (77) dug in for an important 75-run partnership and Blundell went on to construct stands with debutant tailenders Kuggeleijn (20) and Tickner (three not out). The 59-run partnership with Tickner for the tenth wicket was particularly galling for England as Blundell hit out after reaching his fourth check century whereas adeptly marshalling the strike. James Anderson lastly ended the carnage, catching a prime edge off his personal bowling to dismiss Blundell who completed with 19 fours and clobbered a six off spinner Jack Leach. The ultimate New Zealand wicket left Anderson and Broad degree with Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath’s file of 1,001 check Tickets as a bowling duo.
Anderson completed with 3-36 and Ollie Robinson had 4-54 however New Zealand’s specialist batsmen had been culpable of their dismissals. Daryl Mitchell survived solely 10 scoreless balls earlier than being dismissed lbw by Robinson when he declined to play a shot. Conway bunted a half-hearted pull shot off Ben Stokes straight to Ollie Pope, whereas Michael Bracewell (7) charged Leach and hit straight to Stokes at mid-on. Robinson produced an excellent supply to bowl Kuggeleijn, although, then dismissed Tim Southee for 10 when the New Zealand skipper slogged to backward sq. the place the pint-sized Duckett leapt for a shocking catch. Robinson mentioned he was no fan of the pink ball earlier than the match and was not altering his thoughts after an extended day within the subject.