Black Caps v England: New Zealand let chances slip as hosts fight their way back into test series decider

The Black Caps have allowed a position of strength to slip through their fingers, as England fought their way back into the test series decider at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge.

The hosts ended day two at 223-2 in response to New Zealand’s 438 all out, trailing by 215 runs thanks to a sublime 113 at better than a run a ball from opener Ben Duckett. However, Duckett’s day should have been done before he reached double figures, when he was dropped on eight by Henry Nicholls at third slip off Nathan Smith’s bowling.

And with no second invitation needed, Duckett and Jacob Bethell (74 not out) showed no mercy against a Black Caps attack weakened by the loss of Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry before the test, while Blair Tickner was ruled out with concussion after a blow to the head on day two.

The pair added 179 runs in 179 balls to leave New Zealand on the back foot, as Henry’s absence in particular proved telling in the wake of his man-of-the-match winning 11-wicket haul at the Oval to level the series last week.

Bethell will resume with Joe Root (21 not out) on day three, with England looking likely to overhaul the Black Caps’ first innings.

New Zealand will hope to regroup, and wrap up England’s first innings to secure any kind of lead. But, without most of their frontline attack, an inexperienced bowling group has plenty of work to do on a surface that’s so far only assisted the batters.

After captain Tom Latham and Devon Conway’s 317-run opening stand gave the Black Caps the perfect start on day one, New Zealand lost 10-121, and 6-77 on day two, to be bowled out for 438 shortly into the second session.

Aside from the openers, only Nicholls (36) and Tom Blundell (30) added any other score of substance, as Ben Stokes’ 4-70 wrapped up New Zealand’s innings. And with the pitch expected to deteriorate during England’s immense heat wave, any kind of deficit could prove problematic for the Black Caps.

Four years ago, New Zealand made 533 in the first innings at the same venue and still ended up on the losing side. Now, with all to play for, only time will tell if this first effort will be enough.

Resuming at 361-4, in conditions two degrees hotter than they were on day one, the Black Caps’ middle order couldn’t capitalise on the platform the openers set for them 24 hours earlier.

While Will O’Rourke added a career-best 19 as nightwatchman – his highest score in any form of professional cricket – a Stokes burst in the morning saw New Zealand reduced to 418-7 at lunch, as England’s captain claimed his 250th test wicket in the process.

Daryl Mitchell made just 11 before he was out caught behind after a review, while O’Rourke was caught at point attempting to pull England’s captain.

Mitchell Santner (4) was controversially given out caught at gully, despite the ball appearing to come off his arm guard. Santner immediately challenged the decision, but TV umpire Adrian Holdstock only used one camera angle, when further replays would have saved the batter.

And while there would have been hopes of crossing 500, Blundell’s dismissal as the ninth wicket to fall, hit on the pad and given LBW after attempting to reverse sweep Shoaib Bashir (2-105), saw the visitors have to settle for 438 instead.

In the absence of Henry and Jamieson, O’Rourke accepted the mantle of a senior bowler, and had Emilio Gay (0) strangled down the leg side to start England’s reply.

That, though, was as good as it got, as Duckett made the most of his extra life, to add 40 of his side’s first 52 runs on his way to a 40-ball half-century, as he and Bethell took a liking to Santner’s left-arm spin, and the extra pace of Ben Sears.

Entering the final session at 73-1, England raced to their 100 in the 18th over, before Duckett offered another chance when he edged Santner past Mitchell at slip on 74.

As the deficit fell below 300, and once England raised their 150 and Bethell passed a half-century of his own after drinks, Duckett raised triple figures for the seventh time in test cricket in only 88 deliveries, with 72 of his runs coming in boundaries,

The Black Caps did get one wicket back before the close of play, when Smith had Duckett play onto his stumps, to begin to bring the run rate back under control. But from 187-2, Bethell and Root negotiated more than 13 overs to reach stumps without further loss.

New Zealand 438 (Conway 157, Latham 151; Stokes 4-70)

England 223-2 (Duckett 113; O’Rourke 1-39)

New Zealand lead by 215 runs

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.