NZ vs ENG Day 2 Highlights: Brook's Ton Gives England Cruise Control In 1st Test

Aakash Saini∙ Updated: Nov 29 2024, 1:23 PM | 2 Min Read

Brook scored a brilliant ton [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.Com]

England took firm control over New Zealand by the end of Day 2 of the series-opening first Test match at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Harry Brook hogged the limelight with a scintillating century alongside Ollie Pope’s swift 77.

Here’s the timeline of how NZ vs ENG panned out in Christchurch:

NZ vs ENG Highlights: Brydon Carse Cleans Up NZ Tail At 348

Resuming the innings on Day 2 at 319-8, New Zealand lost overnight batter Tim Southee to Brydon Carse in just the second over of the morning. Unbeaten Glenn Phillips hung around for a while with number 11 Will O’Rourke to record his fifth Test fifty to reach 58* from 87 balls. As New Zealand reached 348-9 around 91 overs, Carse knocked over O’Rourke to bag his fourth wicket of the innings to seize figures of 4-64.

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NZ vs ENG Highlights: Matt Henry, Nathan Smith Wreck English Top-Order

Up against New Zealand’s 348, England lost each of their top four batters by the time of reaching 71 in 21 overs. New ball paceman Matt Henry delivered the opening breakthrough of the innings by trapping Zak Crawley in front for a 12-ball duck. Debutant Nathan Smith picked up the successive wickets of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, the latter for a duck, as England crashed to 45-3 within the first hour of the innings.

Ben Duckett, nearing his half-century, was done-in by Will O’Rourke’s extra bounce after making 46 from 62 balls at 71-4.

NZ vs ENG Highlights: Harry Brook’s Ton Rescues England Before Stumps

Forming forces at 71-4, Harry Brook crafted a 151-run partnership with Ollie Pope for the fifth wicket to take England past the 200-run mark. Employing England’s standard ‘BazBall’ routine, Brook whacked an unbeaten 132* from 163 balls by the time of reaching stumps on Day 2. Marking his seventh Test century and equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s elite batting record, Brook smeared 10 boundaries and a couple of sixes in the process.

Pope also thwarted New Zealand’s raging attack with a swift 77 from 98 balls before a one-handed stunner by Glenn Phillips off Tim Southee curtailed his rebellious partnership with the centurion. Nonetheless, visiting skipper Ben Stokes (37* off 76) saw off the innings till the close of play as England reached 319-5 from 74 overs.

Stokes will resume the English innings with centurion Brook on Day 3 as they find themselves another 29 runs away from New Zealand’s total.

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