NZ seven wickets away from win
THE equations are simple for both New Zealand and England as the historic pinkball test ends today.
Despite the fat end of almost two complete days lost to rain, New Zealand needs to take seven wickets in 98 overs to take a 10 lead in the twomatch series.
England’s role is, in a sense, simpler: Bat all day.
It starts at 132 for three, needing a further 237 to make New Zealand bat a second time.
And it had a lastover clanger last night with captain Joe Root, struck on his right hand by the previous ball, glancing a catch down the leg side off Trent Boult for 51.
With that, England’s hopes may have gone south.
In truth, its chances of winning essentially evaporated by the first interval on Thursday afternoon by which time it was in the field, trying to minimise the damage done by its 58 all out in the first innings.
Since then, New Zealand has remorselessly moved further ahead. Yesterday the declaration was delayed until 13 overs had been bowled in the second session, with the total at 427 for eight, a lead of 369.
Among the theories for why it batted on longer than, in pure run terms, it needed to: it wanted to try to ensure it only needs to bat once in the test; or it was trying to calculate how many overs of the new ball would be used before the lights would kick in, in the final session. In other words, try to maximise the threat of the pink ball in what are perceived as the most favourable conditions for the bowlers.
As always, if the New Zealanders win today, all will be well and they will have got it right. If England plays out the final hour with, say, two wickets still standing, they will cop flak for delaying the declaration. You really cannot win in this situation.
New Zealand probably wanted three wickets, minimum, by the end of play and got them, just.
Alastair Cook fell to a legside strangle off Boult and Mark Stoneman had done the hard part when he had a moment of madness. He had just completed his fourth test 50, with his first test six, hooking Neil Wagner over fine leg. Next ball Wagner went round the wicket, changed the angle of delivery, pitched it short again and Stoneman hooked it straight to Boult in a squarer fine leg position.
Stoneman lost his head for a moment; Wagner delivered a smart play.
Root played and missed a few times, and copped a couple of balls which kept worryingly low. But the England captain passed 50 for the 38th time, and looked to have settled in for a long stay, before his late departure, as wicketkeeper BJ Watling leapt high to his left to pull in the edge.
The ball did wobble a bit for New Zealand’s bowlers but going round corners as some had anticipated? No.
Earlier Henry Nicholls’ second test century was ample reward for a fine innings.
He grafted at times, showed patience and then, towards the declaration, unfurled some bright attacking shots. He works the ball well through the on side and it might yet come to be seen as a watershed test for the Canterbury lefthander. — NZME