NZ vs ENG 2nd Test: 3 wickets fell for 21, then with the help of Harry Brook and Joe Root’s brilliant centuries, England’s score crossed 300. The second Test match of the two-match Test series between England and New Zealand is being played at the Basin Reserve Stadium in Wellington today. New Zealand captain Tim Southee elected to bowl first after winning the toss. The England batsmen got off to a slow start. England opener Zak Crawley scored 2 runs while fellow opener Ben Duckett could only manage 9 runs. Ollie Pope, who came to bat at number three, could also score only 10 runs.
The England team was out for 21 runs for 3 wickets. It seemed that the team would be all-out within 100 runs, but then came to bat, Joe Root and Harry Brook handled the innings by hitting a century. Joe Root scored 101 runs in 182 balls with the help of seven fours, while Harry Brook scored 184 runs in just 169 balls with the help of 24 fours and five sixes. Both the batsmen are still unbeaten. By the end of the first day’s play, England has scored 315 runs at the loss of three wickets.
Root scored the 45th international century
Joe Root got the 45th century in his international career while batting brilliantly with Harry Brook. His sixth century against New Zealand, and his 29th Test century overall. In 182 balls, he ran 100 runs. On the other side, Brook batted quite quickly and reached his century in 107 balls. Brook batted aggressively after scoring a century, scoring 81 runs in the following 61 balls. He has hit five sixes and 24 fours.
Squad
New Zealand Playing: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (c), Matt Henry, Neil Wagner
England Playing: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson
