England is on their final tour to New Zealand in the WTC cycle, as they are playing a two-match test series against the Blackcaps, who are in the quest for a WTC final appearance. Meanwhile, New Zealand keyman Glenn Phillips, who batted well with a half-century in the Kiwi innings, stunned all with his breathtaking grab at gully, which sent English wicketkeeper-batsman Ollie Pope back to the hut.
England batter Ollie Pope has a new role to play, as after not being in convincing form, he has been demoted down the order to come in to bat at no. 6. Pope seemed to have found his groove in the new role.
Pope scored a stabilizing half-century as he put on a brilliant partnership with batter Harry Brook, who scored another of his stunning hundreds for England. Pope got out when Philips leapt into the air to pull off a screamer at the Gully position off Tim Southee’s bowling, which the batter cut wide of the point.
England are trailing by 29 runs at stumps on day 2
Kiwi veteran batter, Kane Williamson, returned to the side and replaced their last series’ MVP, Will Young. He turned heads with a splendid innings of 93 runs. Though the batter missed on a hundred, he gave a firm start to the Kiwis on Day 1.
While England came back with a befitting reply to Williamson’s strong resolute, Glenn Phillips scored a fifty down the order before Kiwis surrendered on 348.
English, on the other hand, didn’t go well as Crawley, Bethell and veteran batter Joe Root failed to capitalize on their batting roles. Ben Duckett handled the early session while Harry Brook kept the tone of the English innings with his stunning hundred. Ollie Pope has a new role in the team due to the absence of Jamie Smith owing to the birth of his first child, and Cox has not yet received a call to the 11. Pope sustained blows to put on a resilient 77.
At the end of Day 2, skipper Ben Stokes scored a decent 37, while Brook stood tall unbeaten on 132.
