Hagley Oval pitch holds key to fortunes

CHRISTCHURCH: A friendly Hagley Oval pitch could be England’s biggest impediment as it pushes for victory over New Zealand in the second and final test in Christchurch.

With two days to play, the tourists have a lead of 231 runs with seven wickets in hand in their second innings after going to stumps at three for 202.

Captain Joe Root is at the crease on 30 and probably facing a key declaration decision today.

Dawid Malan was with him on 19 when bad light stopped play three overs early.

England must force the issue after losing the series opener.

Root must also take into account a surface which has flattened out and is showing little sign of wear, allowing his team to steadily accumulate yesterday.

Two batsmen desperate for runs both passed 50 although opener Mark Stoneman (60) and James Vince (76) will both kick themselves for not reaching three figures after putting on 123 for the second wicket.

Both fell to lazy snicks midway through the final session, which will not help cement their ongoing selection following some mixed summer returns.

Stoneman’s knock was his highest test score despite now having five half centuries to his name.

Vince looked fluent, as always, before continuing his propensity for losing concentration.

Both are in better touch than veteran opener Alastair Cook, whose dismissal for 14 gave him a series tally of 23 runs from four innings.

He snicked a wide ball from Trent Boult (two for 38), who has dismissed the lefthander nine times.

No other Kiwi bowler in test history has had more success against an opposition batsman.

Yesterday morning, Boult was part of a batting tail which wagged effectively.

New Zealand scored 86 runs in an entertaining 90minute period as the final four wickets fell.

It was a fine recovery from the hosts to trail by just 29 runs after having teetered at five for 36 in response to England’s 307.

Southee raced from 13 to 50 after overnight partner BJ Watling fell for 85.

Neil Wagner (24 not out) and Boult (16) rode their luck in a 39run finalwicket stand.

England pace bowlers Broad (six for 54) and Jimmy Anderson (four for 76) bagged two wickets apiece.

All 23 wickets so far have been claimed by the new ball bowlers, with Southee (seven scalps) and Boult (six) also thriving.

The pattern would have been broken if Ross Taylor had held a chance in slips offered by Stoneman, on 48, off the bowling of Colin de Grandhomme. — AAP