NZ vs ENG, 3rd Session: Tom Blundell's rescue act keeps the game afloat


image-le88z42wBlundell scored his 4th Test ton [Twitter]

This Day-Night Test between New Zealand and England is evenly poised, thanks to a magnificent hundred from wicket-keeper batter, Tom Blundell. New Zealand needed something special after what transpired on Day 1, and Blundell provided just the perfect cushion.

Resuming the third session under lights, New Zealand were tottering at 238 for 8, and were in danger of getting dismissed under 250. But Blundell continued his good work from the second session and trusted Tim Southee from the other end. Blundell took the aggressive approach, knowing that New Zealand are well behind the game.

This is where the game changed for the home side. Despite Southee getting dismissed for just 10, Blundell looked unfazed and carried the good work. He got an able partner in Blair Tickner, who made his Test debut.

Tickner faced 24 balls, but ensured that he was standing like a brick wall to support Blundell. As time passed by, nervousness turned into optimism for the Kiwis as the keeper-batter brought up a fine Test century under immense pressure. Enroute he slammed the highest score by a keeper in Day-Night Test matches.

After reaching the three-figure mark, Blundell upped his ante and took the English bowlers apart. The strike-rate increase and each run haunted Ben Stokes and England.

The Blundell heroics finally came to an end at 138, when he gave a charge to Anderson and lobbed the ball in the air as the pacer took a simple catch.

The New Zealand innings ended at 306, all thanks to the 32-year-old.

The visitors came out to bat and the Bazball approach was in full flow. Both Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett went after the bowlers, as the Black Caps bowlers missed their marks.

Both the batters had a great mix of caution and aggression, but Duckett's short aggressive stay came to an end, when Tickner managed to find a nick and Latham picked a smart catch at second slip. 

Crawley followed his opening partner back to the pavilion, when he got a bottom-edge of Kuggeleijn's bowling and Blundell grabbed it behind the stumps.

Broad came in as a nightwatchman, and was struck on the helmet by Tim Southee. He survived the final few balls as England ended Day 2 on 79 for 2, with a lead of 98 runs.

Talking Points

  • Blundell dropped: When the keeper-batter was batting at 117, he flashed hard at the away going delivery from Stokes and Foakes couldn't get hold of it. He dived and it touched his gloves. Blundell went onto add 21 more runs, and these are important runs in the context of the game.
  • Duckett goes berserk: Duckett had a plan when he came out to bat. He took a special liking towards the Kiwi opening bowlers and the boundary floodgates opened.

Brief Score

New Zealand: 306-10 (82.5)

Tom Blundell 138 (181), Devon Conway 77 (151);

Ollie Robinson 4-54 (19), James Anderson 3-36 (16.5);

England (2nd innings): 79-2 (16)

Zak Crawley 28 (39), Ben Duckett 25 (27);

Scott Kuggeleijn 1-2 (2), Blair Tickner 1-26 (4)