HAS FIELD DAY TO FORGET...
DARYL MITCHELL left England with a huge job to save the Second Test.
The Black Caps’ man-in-form followed up his ton at Lord’s by inflicting yet more damage on Ben Stokes & Co.
Tough right-hander Mitchell was the last man out – falling ten runs short of a double ton – as the tourists’ turned the screw at Trent Bridge.
It was the third-highest individual score in this country by a New Zealander and, along with fellow centurion Tom Blundell, it has put the visitors in a dominant position.
Not that England didn’t contribute to their own problems. After spurning four chances on the opening day, they were at it again.
A horror spill by Matthew Potts allowed Mitchell to crack on shortly after reaching his three figures, enabling the Black Caps to build both a formidable total and take control.
Damage caused by the early loss of Zak Crawley was repaired by Alex Lees and Ollie Pope – the latter grabbing his first halfcentury at No.3 in an unbroken second-wicket stand of 84.
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick said: “There were good signs there at the end with Alex and Ollie – but we’ve got to put runs on the board. That’s what the game is about.”
Mitchell certainly did that. He added the 19 runs necessary from his overnight score to claim back-to-back centuries following his knock at the home of cricket. Then came another of those ‘what if’ moments for England. The right-hander had a rush of blood when he decided to smack England’s left-arm spinner Jack Leach into the pavilion – only to fall short.
Potts was well-placed to take the chance on the boundary edge. But the ball brushed his fingers before hitting his knee and plopping onto the floor and over the rope. It summed up England’s shoddy fielding over two forgettable days.
Still, they finally ended Mitchell’s 236-run partnership for the fifth wicket with his pal Blundell. They set a record in London. And bettered it in Nottingham.
The tourists’ wicket-keeper reached his own milestone with the minimum of fuss, giving England their only scalp before the rain break after trying to lift Leach over the top and falling to Stokes’s safe hands.
A delay following a timely mid-afternoon shower gave England a chance to regroup.
After four balls of one Jimmy Anderson over that drifted by, the fifth teased a shot out of debutant Michael Bracewell (49) that was gobbled up by Joe Root at first slip and that sparked a mini-collapse with the final four wickets yielding 57 runs.
Mitchell was the last to go, nicking one behind from Potts.
England’s reply started in typical fashion. Crawley edged a ball from Trent Boult that was angled across him.
Ironically, Mitchell then took some of the sheen from his day – putting down chances at first slip as both Lees and Pope were let off the hook.