Wellington, Feb 25: For the second day in a row rain came to New Zealand’s rescue in the second Test, saving it from an even greater mauling by England.
On the first day the rain came after only 65 overs when England already was 315/3. With Harry Brook making 186 and Joe Root an unbeaten 153 in a 302-run partnership, England was able to declare its first innings at 435/8.
And when the rain came again on Saturday not long after tea, New Zealand was 138/7, still 297 behind. Tom Blundell was 25 and Tim Southee on 23.
James Anderson with 3/37 and Jack Leach with 3/45 wrecked the New Zealand first innings and sent the home team to the locker room in a light shower, welcoming the chance of a reprieve.
Anderson once again took apart the New Zealand top order as he or Stuart Broad had done in England’s win in the first Test at Mount Maunganui.
He dismissed Devon Conway (0) with only the fifth ball of the New Zealand innings, then had Kane Williamson (4) and Will Young (2).
New Zealand’s recovery was led by Tom Latham who made 35 and raised the total to 60/4 before he swept at Leach and was caught at slip by Root as the ball grazed the top of his glove.
Leach then removed Henry Nicholls (30) and Daryl Mitchell (13) to reassert England’s superiority. Southee and Blundell helped a little to steady New Zealand before the rain came. (AP)
