Young England batter Harry Brook accomplished his fourth Test century in simply his sixth Test match as England made speedy restoration after slipping to 21 for 3 on Day 1 of the second Test towards New Zealand in Wellington on Friday (February 24). Brook got here into bat in simply the seventh over of the match, becoming a member of former skipper Joe Root within the center after New Zealand skipper Tim Southee had dismissed opener Ben Duckett for 9.
Brook took the assault to the New Zealand bowlers in model, finishing his 50 off simply 51 balls with 10 boundaries in his innings. Brook and Root partnership introduced up fifty off 73 balls for the fourth wicket.
Root, who was dismissed trying two reverse scoops within the first Test towards New Zealand, determined to play the anchor function to assist Brook. The younger Sunrisers Hyderabad batter hammered his first six of the innings off New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell.
After lacking out on a ton within the first innings of the primary Test, Brook – who had scored three centuries in three Tests towards Pakistan final 12 months – accomplished his fourth ton off 107 with 14 fours and a couple of sixes.
WATCH (*1*)Harry Brook full his fourth Test century right here…
Harry Brook has 4 centuries and three fifties from simply 9 innings in Test cricket.
Unbelievable begin by the 24 12 months outdated sensation from England. pic.twitter.com/TDmUldFEAS
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 24, 2023
Root, on the different finish, performed a watchful innings – mentioning his fifty off 122 balls with simply two fours in his innings. The second session has belonged to England as far as Brook and Root partnership placed on 200 runs for the fourth wicket off simply 262 balls regardless of shedding three early wickets.
By the 52nd over of the innings, Brook was batting on 125 off 127 balls with 17 fours and a couple of sixes and Root was on 72 off 146 balls with England reaching 226 for 3.
Earlier, New Zealand captain Tim Southee gained the toss and mixed with Matt Henry on a greenish pitch to have England 21-3 within the seventh over. Brook responded together with his fourth consecutive half century and placed on 80 with Joe Root (23) to raise England to 101-3 at lunch.
The look of the pitch on the Basin Reserve typically is deceptive on the primary morning of a take a look at when the covers are drawn again and it seems vibrant inexperienced within the daylight. Many groups have foundered previously by capitulating to its lure and bowling first.
Southee’s determination to bowl would possibly partly have been inspired by the pitch but additionally by his reluctance to show his fragile prime order early on to Stuart Broad and James Anderson who twice routed the New Zealand batters to bowl England to a 267-run win within the first Test. The Basin Reserve pitch provided extra tempo and bounce than the primary take a look at pitch at Bay Oval and there was somewhat motion early on.
Henry used that motion to benefit, probing on a full fourth stump line to take away Zac Crawley (2) and Ollie Pope (10) whereas Southee dismissed Ben Duckett (9) with the assistance of a superb catch by Michael Bracewell at second slip. Crawley needed to play at a ball from Henry which simply nipped away, took the surface edge and carried to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
Pope additionally provided a straight bat to a ball from Henry which moved away to seek out the sting and provides Bracewell his first catch of the day. Southee furnished the second with a ball pitched throughout Duckett which flew huge of Bracewell, who juggled it however took the catch diving to his left.
(with PTI inputs)
