Southee, Wagner clean up as England collapse to 353 all out

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MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand, Nov 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tim Southee took
three wickets in 11 balls — including the key scalp of Ben Stokes — as New
Zealand wrapped up the England first innings for 353 on day two of the first
Test in Mount Maunganui on Friday.

Southee’s wickets reduced England to 295 for eight before Jos Buttler and
Jack Leach kept the scoreboard moving with a 52-run partnership for the ninth
wicket.

Neil Wagner closed the innings with the wickets of Buttler and Stuart Broad
in quick succession, leaving New Zealand to start their second innings with
56 overs remaining in the day.

Southee, who took one wicket on the first day when England compiled 242 for
four, finished with four for 88.

He was denied a five-wicket haul when Jeet Raval dropped Buttler on 34 with
the wicketkeeper-batsman adding a further nine runs before Wagner had him
caught on the boundary by a quick-reacting Mitchell Santner.

As Wagner came in to bowl the wicket-taking delivery, Santner was outside
the boundary with his back to the wicket signing autographs and he had to
smartly turn and head infield to take the catch, sparing his blushes.

Wagner followed up by bowling Stuart Board for one to end the innings and
finish with figures of three for 90.

England had resumed the day in positive fashion with the overnight pair of
Stokes and Ollie Pope pushing the score along to 277 before the collapse
began, with the last six wickets falling in the space of 76 runs.

The disintegration started when Southee had Stokes removed by a stunning
one-handed catch at first slip by Ross Taylor diving to his right.

Stokes was on 91 and looked in complete control until he stepped down the
wicket to drive the senior New Zealand bowler, only to be beaten by the
swinging delivery which caught the edge of his bat.

In his following over, Southee removed Pope (29) and Sam Curran in
successive balls with Jofra Archer surviving the hat-trick before being
caught by Southee off Trent Boult two balls later for four.