ZCZC
BSP-04
CRICKET-NZL-ENG-LEAD
Root’s epic 226 gives England 101-run lead over New Zealand
HAMILTON, New Zealand, Dec 2, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Joe Root celebrated a timely
return to form with a double ton as England forged a 101-run lead over New
Zealand in the second Test in Hamilton on Monday.
After the tourists had established a respectable total, tireless New
Zealand short-ball specialist Neil Wagner ripped through the tail to finish
with five wickets as England were all out at tea for 476 in reply to New
Zealand’s first innings 375.
Root spent nearly 11 hours at the crease in compiling 226, his second-
highest score of an 88-Test career.
With England needing to win to square the series after being thoroughly
outplayed in the first Test, Root and Ollie Pope batted patiently to get
England ahead before they lifted the scoring rate and wickets fell.
After resuming the day at 269 for five the pair took England to 455 before
Wagner worked his magic with an old ball on a placid pitch and England’s last
five wickets fell for 21 runs.
It was spinner Mitchell Santner, however, who accounted for Root.
The England captain had faced 440 balls in a near chanceless performance
when his exquisite timing deserted him and an attempt to hit the New Zealand
spinner out of the ground became a comfortable catch for Henry Nicholls at
deep cover.
After going to the middle when England were in early trouble at 24 for two,
Root was patience personified as he found the form that has eluded him for
most of the year.
With Rory Burns, he put on 177 for the third wicket and added 193 for the
sixth wicket with Pope.
Pope went for 75, his maiden Test half-century and four balls later Root
was also gone, with the crowd standing to applaud as he made his way back to
the pavilion.
Wagner then raced through the tail to finish with five for 124, his second
five-wicket haul in the series.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1043 hrs