The Pak Banker

New Zealand leave England in disarray

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Tim Southee and Matt Henry removed both England openers as New Zealand reduced the tourists to 39-2 and took control of the second Test by the close of play on the second day at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

New Zealand had been dismissed for 375 about an hour after tea and hold a 336run lead heading into the third day of a match that England need to win to level the twoTest series.

Rory Burns was on 24 at the close of play, having survived two dropped catches, with captain Joe Root on six and looking uncomforta­ble at the crease as he battles with a precipitou­s drop in form over the last year. Opening batsman Dom Sibley was trapped in front by Southee for four to leave the tourists 111 before Joe Denly (four) was snapped up by wicketkeep­er BJ Watling with a superb low catch off Henry to reduce them further to 24-2.

England could have been even further in the mire at stumps with Burns dropped on 10 by Ross Taylor at first slip off Henry and again, from a more difficult chance, on 19 by Jeet Raval at midwicket off Southee. England's pace attack had earlier dragged their side back into the game with a fiery spell of shortpitch­ed bowling at New Zealand's tail after Stuart Broad had broken a 124-run stand between debutant Daryl Mitchell (73) and Watling (55).

"When I was sitting on zero I wasn't that calm," Mitchell said. "So it was nice to get a run and get started and the more time you spend out there the easier it does get.

"But England bowled very well. They were very patient at times and built pressure and asked good questions. We just had to grind it out for a period there and I was lucky enough to get a few runs."

New Zealand had been well set at 315-5 heading into tea before Broad removed first Test man-of-the-match Watling with the penultimat­e ball before the break. Broad then had Mitchell caught at deep fine leg by Jofra Archer about 20 minutes after play resumed in the final session.

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