Anderson and Leach wickets leave England in control as New Zealand falter

25 February 2023 , 05:42

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James Anderson picked up three wickets with the new ball to leave New Zealand 21-3 (Image: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

England are well and truly in control of the second Test against New Zealand as James Anderson and Jack Leach picked up three wickets apiece to help reduce the hosts to 138-7, before rain once again brought an early end to proceedings.

Anderson and Leach's breakthroughs vindicated another bold declaration from captain Ben Stokes, who waved England off after they had added a further 120 runs to their overnight score. Harry Brook only scored two more runs, getting caught and bowled by Matt Henry off his seventh ball of the day for an excellent 186, meaning his wait for a maiden double hundred goes on.

Joe Root, however, picked up right where he left off on day one as he moved to an unbeaten 153. It did not take long for the former skipper to break out the reverse scoop, sending his fourth ball from Tim Southee over the slips for four, and he went on to smash three sixes as he added 52 runs from just 42 balls.

Stokes, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson all played useful cameos and England waited until Root had flicked Henry away for four to bring up his 150 before deciding to declare on 431-8. It was a typically bold call from Stokes, whose decision gave his seamers a short 35-minute burst at New Zealand's top order before lunch.

And Anderson immediately made two huge breakthroughs, getting Devon Conway caught behind for a duck in the very first over before repeating the trick to send Kane Williamson packing for four. After the break, Anderson removed Will Young for two to leave the hosts faltering at 21-3.

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However, unlike England who were in the exact same position when Brook joined Root at the crease on day one, there was no mammoth partnership to get them out of trouble. Following Anderson's brilliant start with the new ball, Leach then took centre stage as the left-arm spinner picked up three wickets of his own.

Opener Tom Latham was caught at slip after a reverse-sweep attempt, with a lengthy DRS review determining the ball had hit the wristband of his glove before popping to Root at slip.

Jack Leach also picked up three wickets, with Ollie Pope taking two brilliant close catches under the helmet (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Ollie Pope then took two excellent grabs under the helmet, taking a one-handed diving catch with his left to dismiss Henry Nicholls for 30 before taking another superb one-handed catch with his right to remove Daryl Mitchell for 13.

Stuart Broad also got in on the act, taking a simple caught and bowled chance off Michael Bracewell to leave New Zealand 103-7. Tom Blundell, who struck an excellent century in Mount Maunganui, then stood firm alongside Southee in an unbeaten 35-run partnership until the rain came.

The weather wiped out almost two hours of play in the evening, but England are firmly in control of the match heading into day three with New Zealand trailing by 297 runs and the follow-on a distinct possibility.

Matthew Cooper