England pummel Wagner, but New Zealand nabs four wickets

image-le9fzfe4Harry Brook smashed Neil Wagner for 18 runs in an over (Twitter)

The first session of the third day of the day night Test between England and New Zealand saw attacking batting from the visitors, much like their ‘Bazball’ approach in recent times.

Session Summary

English batters exhibited their remarkable performance and scored 158 runs in 25.1 overs. Neil Wagner, who started the day with promising bowling, ended up with terrible figures of of 11-0-104-2. The session belonged to England, however, the Blackcaps managed to find some respite by getting rid of Joe Root in the final over of the session.

Half centuries by Joe Root and Harry Brook

England's players gave New Zealand a glimmer of hope by losing four wickets but they managed to stay in the game by taking their chances when they arose. Ollie Pope started the session by scoring 49 runs off 46 balls, which paved the way for Joe Root and Harry Brook to score half-centuries each.

Harry Brook's performance was exceptional, as he reached 600 runs in just eight Test innings, with a career strike rate of almost 97. Despite Stuart Broad’s dismissal early on in the session, the rest of the team continued to bat aggressively, resulting in 14 fours and six sixes.


New Zealand did have a chance to turn the game around after dismissing Broad, with Root's cagey innings starting with a lucky boundary off Tim Southee's delivery. However, Pope showed his determination by hitting the next ball of Wagner's over for two sixes over fine leg. He and Root followed up with two more sixes in the same over.

Pope managed to hit Wagner for two tennis-smashed fours, but he missed out on his half-century after gloving another pull down the leg side. Harry Brook replaced him, and he continued with the same level of aggression.

Although he took a few overs to find his rhythm, he belted two fours and a massive six over cow corner when he faced Wagner. His 18-run over set him on track for a 37-ball fifty, but he eventually fell to Blair Tickner, who caught him off-guard with a fuller length delivery.

Joe Root dismissed of the last ball

Joe Root got out on the last ball of the session while playing a reverse sweep, a shot similar to his first innings' dismissal. England sent Ben Foakes ahead of Ben Stokes, indicating that they were in no hurry to complete the match. However, Root's departure added a new twist to the game, and it will be interesting to see how England will fare in the next session.

Talking points

England’s onslaught: Stokes’ side continued with their attacking cricket as they smashed the Kiwi bowlers all around the park. With a scoring rate of over six, England showed that they will either live by the sword or die by it but this is the attacking approach they are going to exhibit.

Root’s dismissals: The England veteran perished once again trying to attempt the same shot that led to his dismissal in the first innings. Root, who has been rather audacious lately, tried to reverse-sweep Michael Bracewell, but ended up edging it to first slip.

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): 237/6 (41.1)

Joe Root (57) (62), Harry Brook 54 (41)
Blair Tickner 2*47 (9), Neil Wagner 2*104 (11)