New Zealand have an uphill task
Christchurch, April 2: Tom Latham and Jeet Raval edged New Zealand to 42 without loss at the start of a formidable run chase when bad light brought an early end to the penultimate day of the second Test on Monday.
Latham was not out 25 with Raval on 17 and New Zealand requiring a further 340 to reach their 382-run target.
If successful, it would be the seventh-highest winning run chase in Test history.
New Zealand’s highest successful fourth innings is 325 for five to beat Pakistan in Christchurch 24 years ago.
After England declared at 352 for nine, Latham and Raval had some difficult moments in a hostile first-up spell by Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Anderson did everything but claim Latham’s wicket as the New Zealand opener flirted outside the off stump in similar fashion to the way he was removed by Broad in the first innings.
After some near misses, Latham on 23 eventually found an edge but James Vince dropped the chance at third slip.
Broad, meanwhile, consistently beat Raval in his early overs and struck the left-hander with a painful blow in the ribs before he had scored.
While England’s new ball bowlers were miserly, with Anderson conceding only nine runs from nine overs and Broad going for 16 off eight, the New Zealand pair did find runs easier to get off Mark Wood who went for 13 off two overs. — AFP