NZ vs ENG: English bowlers sink the Blackcaps deeper; Blundell shows resilience
The second session on Day was all about the English bowling dominating New Zealand middle order with their brilliantly mastered plans. Each English bowler came in full-prepared for every opponent batter in the post-supper, for which they also got the big ticket.
Stokes - 1, Conway - zilch
The duo of Devon Conway and Tom Blundell revived the New Zealand innings with their gritty partnership in the latter half of the first session; however, the English skipper Ben Stokes took charge himself and challenged the Kiwi opener with a short of a length delivery.
Conway hoped into his crease but mistimed a pull stroke straight into the hands of Ollie Pope at square leg, dismissing for a well-made 77.
The saying 'one brings two' became a fact as Michael Bracewell could not help his team's cause much. However, his opposite number, Jack Leach got the better of Bracewell on a nothing shot.
After two quick wickets in the session, the English got the tails up as they had a 143-run lead with just three more breaks to put.
However, Blundell then got a ray of hope in the number nine batter.
Blundell shook hands with No. 9
The debutant, Scott Kuggeleijn, came as a small glimmer of hope for the Blackcaps and partnered with Blundell. The duo took baby steps against the mighty English bowlers, and suddenly that tiny glimmer became a beaming light.
Kuggeleijn, who has a first-class average of 27.72, proved that he had worked the hard yards in the domestic circles. He showed confident strokeplay and even better defence, helping Blundell go harder against the opposition.
Soon, the wicketkeeper completed his 10th fifty in Test cricket as the runs started to come. However, as the deficit began to lessen for the home team, Blundell took a DRS chance against him.
The Stokes-led army was confident that the keeper-batter had nicked it behind, but only to waste a review. There was clear daylight between bat and pad on that one, and the ball was missing the stumps by at least a mile.
Blundell and Kuggeleijn completed a stand of 50 runs, but half an hour before the dinner break, the latter lost his cool against Ollie Robinson, who castled him.
Blundell is still unbeaten on 80, and Tim Southee has joined him in the middle.
Talking Points
Tom Blundell showcased his class against the best workers with Pink Ball. He technique and tempament was miles ahead of some who batted way over him.
Ben Stokes rotated his mainstray bowlers brilliantly, but he could have used himself better after he scalped the first wicket of the session - Devon Conway.
Brief Score
New Zealand 1st innings: 238/8 (69)
Tom Blundell 80*, Devon Conway 77
Ollie Robinson 3/33 (14), James Anderson 2/28 (15)
 "Arjun Bhalla")
