ZCZC
BSP-02
CRICKET-NZL-ENG,LEAD
England dismiss New Zealand dangerman Watling in 2nd Test
HAMILTON, New Zealand, Nov 30, 2019 (AFP) – England captured the vital New
Zealand wicket of BJ Watling on the last ball before tea to snap a stubborn
124-run partnership on day two of the second Test in Hamilton on Saturday.
At the interval, New Zealand were 315 for six with Watling out for 55 and
debutant Daryl Mitchell still at the crease on 63.
Watling and Mitchell had stonewalled England for almost two full sessions
as New Zealand looked to bat England out of the Test to take the series.
England made a positive start to the day when they removed the overnight
batsmen inside the first half hour with Tom Latham gone for 105 and Henry
Nicholls for 16, and New Zealand were five for 191.
Watling and Mitchell then dug in to patiently regain the initiative for
New Zealand in a cautious partnership that saw England deliver 21 maiden
overs in two sessions. Mitchell faced 122 deliveries before bringing up his
50, pulling Ben Stokes through mid-wicket for four.
An even more cautious Watling had faced 180 deliveries by the time he
reached his 50 three overs later with an elegant cut to the cover boundary
off Sam Curran.
Their stubborn partnership had put New Zealand on track to at least draw
the Test and take the series after comprehensively winning the first Test
when Watling dominated with a double century.
Watling’s charmed run came to an end in Hamilton when he fended a short
ball from Stuart Broad to Rory Burns in the gully.
Broad, who bowled Latham with his sixth ball of the day, has figures of
three for 60.
He also took the catch to remove Nicholls off the bowling of Curran who
has one for 63.
Chris Woakes was the only other wicket-taker for England, removing Kane
Williamson and Ross Taylor on the first day to have two for 57.
BSS/AFP/SSS/0903 hrs