New Zealand v England 2018

It's surprising that the recalled Vince can still get a game for England - his dismissal this morning makes his test batting after 21 innings a mere 22.47. The other two changes for England are fair calls, as Wood and Leach both deserve their chance I think. Overton joined Ali and Woakes in making way.

Good job we had Johnny Bairstow. He managed to turn another possible low score into a working total.
But at 97 no he'll be desparate to move on to a hundred tonight.

England 290-8..

Well done to Johnny Bairstow in reaching his 100.

Current score 307-9 with Leach just out.

(30-03-2018 11:25 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Good job we had Johnny Bairstow.

Good job we had Mark Wood too, who played an outstanding innings of 52 from no 9 in the order. Well done to Bairstow, but he couldn't have turned 94/5 into a total of 307 by himself.

Bairstow made 101 in the end and was the last man out as England totalled 307. Boult and Southee took all 10 wickets between them, as they did in England's first innings last time.

New Zealand close the 2nd day on 192/6. Broad has 4 wickets. A few overs were lost to bad light at the end of the day, so they will start half an hour earlier tomorrow, which is actually half an hour later because the clocks go back in New Zealand tonight.

(31-03-2018 12:34 )straw man Wrote:  New Zealand close the 2nd day on 192/6. Broad has 4 wickets. A few overs were lost to bad light at the end of the day, so they will start half an hour earlier tomorrow, which is actually half an hour later because the clocks go back in New Zealand tonight.

New Zealand 278 all out. The innings followed a very similar pattern to England's innings, an initial collapse and a decent recovery, the opening bowlers taking all 10 wickets, and in the end only 29 runs between the sides.

After day 3 England reach 202-3.
The overall lead is 239.

I've never seen a series where the ball make such a difference with the batting.
In the 1st ten overs the bowling is unplayable and then it goes so soft that it difficult to get any movement at all.

England have declared on 352/9.
New Zealand require 382 to win.

Broad gets two wickets in the first two balls. Including Kane Williamson

New Zealand 42-2.

Not to be missed