Watling breaks England hearts

Wicketkeeping marvel scores a second straight test century to haul Black Caps into a winning position.

Just behind the Bay scoreboard looms a new speed climbing wall.

Out in the centre in the blazing Saturday sun, another structure grabbed the 5834-strong crowd’s attention and proved extremely difficult to conquer: the Watling Wall.

New Zealand’s wicketkeeping marvel BJ Watling stood firm throughout day three of the first test, defying England’s bowlers and accepting one vital let-off from Ben Stokes to notch his eighth test century.

Watling’s unbeaten 119 lifted the Black Caps from a hopeful to potentially winning position, 394-6 at stumps and a lead of 41 with two days to play.

After 418 minutes and 298 deliveries he was ready for more today alongside Mitchell Santner, after etching his name in the books as Mt Maunganui’s first test centurymaker.

Allrounder Colin de Grandhomme’s measured knock of 65 was crucial, too, as the pair added 119 for the sixth wicket from a tenuous 197-5 in reply to England’s 353, with the tourists’ chances of a first test win in New Zealand since 2008 slipping away.

The pitch remains sluggish and docile but as it dries further, variable bounce may come into play. New Zealand’s pace attack will cross their fingers for the swing they were able to generate on day one, when they grip the new ball.

A draw or a Black Caps win are now the most likely results, with the unknown of the pitch at New Zealand’s ninth test venue never having gone to a fifth day.

Watling pushed a Sam Curran delivery and scampered a single an hour before stumps. There was a little punch of the air and a short embrace with Santner as the crowd rose and England’s players all clapped him, too.

It was successive test centuries for Watling after his 105 not out in sapping Colombo heat in August, which led to a serieslevelling New Zealand win.

Oval fivestorey

‘‘It felt great, obviously. I love scoring hundreds for New Zealand and I really enjoyed that one,’’ Watling said.

‘‘It was hard work and we had some tough periods but we got through. It was special to get over the line and to still be there tonight, which I targeted.’’

Watling resumed on six alongside Henry Nicholls who returned from a fearsome head knock from Jofra Archer free of concussion symptoms.

Spin nearly undid Watling on 31 when captain Joe Root found the edge and Stokes somehow dropped a reasonably simple chance. Nicholls (41) was trapped in front two balls later but the drop hurt them.

De Grandhomme looked in control then picked up the pace as Watling ground on. The allrounder hooked Archer for six as the England fast bowler ran hot and cold, his speed ranging from the mid-130s to 152kmh, the ball after Watling survived a DRS review on 53.

Archer bowled 30 wicketless overs for 84, including a wild bouncer that went for five wides and another that looped way down leg.

De Grandhomme continued his superb run in test cricket after being New Zealand’s best bowler on day one. In the last year he’s scored 368 test runs at 92 and also played a crucial support role for Watling in Colombo.

A stunning Dom Sibley catch removed de Grandhomme, off

Stokes who was strangely underused with the ball, but Watling kept batting, and batting. He was given out on 113 by umpire Bruce Oxenford but challenged after getting an inside edge. The bowler? Archer, again.

‘‘I just think I’m very limited and I try to play how I know works best for me. I take a few shots away that some of the big boys do, and I definitely can’t. I try to stick to a gameplan and hopefully it pays off.’’

And it could yet pay off with another test victory. Watling and Santner (31 not out) will resume on an unbroken stand of 78, trying to build the lead to over 100.

‘‘We’re expecting the surface to keep playing a few more tricks over the next couple of days so it is important for us to try and build this lead a bit and put them under some pressure when they bat. The least amount of runs we can chase the better.

‘‘If we can get some partnerships going tomorrow there’s every chance of a result our way.’’

‘‘It felt great, obviously. I love scoring hundreds for New Zealand and I really enjoyed that one.’’ New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling