Black Caps get helping hand
England’s slim chances of levelling the test series against the Black Caps spilt through their hands in Hamilton yesterday.
Wicketkeeper Ollie Pope and team-mate Joe Denly dropped simple chances – Denly’s qualifying as one of test cricket’s greatest howlers – on the rainshortened final day of the second test.
That allowed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson the opportunity to score his 21st test century and batting-partner Ross Taylor followed him soon after with his 19th ton in tests.
Aiming to bowl New Zealand out in Hamilton and chase a small target before forecasted rain arrived in the afternoon, England knew they couldn’t squander any opportunities.
But they did – twice – when dropping Williamson.
The expected rain arrived at 1.55pm, soon after Williamson and Taylor had registered their centuries and guided their team to a draw to claim the series 1-0 after their victory in Mount Maunganui.
When play was called off at 3.54pm, Williamson was unbeaten on 104 and Taylor 105 not out, with the duo adding an unbroken 213 for the third wicket partnership – a record against England.
England may long ponder what could have been.
When Ben Stokes took an around-the-wicket path to New Zealand’s key batsman in the fourth over of the final day, it prompted the skipper to glove a short one through to stand-in wicketkeeper Pope.
But the 21-year-old, who was given the keeping duties when Jos Buttler was injured, made a hash of the chance, diving and allowing the ball to go through his gloved hands.
Williamson was then on 39. To make matters worse for the tourists, Williamson was shelled again by Denly in a miss that stunned everyone who witnessed it.
The Black Caps captain was fooled by a delivery from paceman Jofra Archer and pushed the ball gently in the air to the England fielder at a short mid-wicket.
But Denly let it fall through his hands, also being unable to pouch it on the second attempt as it fell softly to the ground – horrifying Archer, who had already wheeled away in glee.
Williamson had a third life when he could have been run out on 97 but Sam Curran’s throw missed the stumps with New Zealand’s skipper having given up hope of making his ground.
He brought up his century in the same over while Taylor – who became just the second Kiwi to score more than 7000 runs in tests – registered his with emphatic back-to-back sixes off the off-spin of England captain Joe Root.
New Zealand resumed yesterday five short of making England bat again, with eight wickets up their sleeve and needing only a draw for another home series triumph.
They will head to Perth on Saturday to play a three-test series against Australia, starting with a day-night pink-ball test at Optus Stadium in Perth, starting on December 12 before moving to Melbourne and Sydney.
They will hope to have Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme fit again after the duo missed the second test through injuries.