England lower order leads fightback
England eventually managed to assert their dominance over New Zealand A in Whangarei, but only after a lower-order fightback spared their blushes.
The tourists found themselves in a hole early on day two of the three-day tour match, losing four wickets before lunch to fall to 105-5 in response to New Zealand A’s 302-6 declared.
However, impressive knocks from Jos Buttler (88 not out), Ollie Pope (88) and Joe Denly (68) wrestled away the momentum to take a 53-run lead at stumps on 355-8.
With England beginning the day on 26-1, New Zealand A’s bowlers proceeded to make inroads at regular intervals before a middle order collapse had the hosts firmly in control.
England lost three wickets for just 12 runs prior to lunch, including the cheap dismissals of Joe Root and Ben Stokes in successive overs.
Root shrugged off an injury scare on day one, returning to the field after receiving medical treatment following a heavy fall on the boundary edge. But the England skipper offered little resistance at the crease, adding just two to the total before being trapped in front by Daryl Mitchell.
Mitchell then took a catch in the slips to send Stokes packing for three after the star allrounder completely misjudged a Jimmy Neesham delivery.
It’s not the build-up the batsmen were hoping for ahead of this week’s first test against the Black Caps in Mount Maunganui.
Yet despite the best efforts of the Kiwi
(Glenn Phillips 116, Tom Blundell 60, Hamish Rutherford 59; Jofra Archer 2-58, Ben Stokes 2-62) play
(Jos Buttler 88no, Ollie Pope 88, Joe Denly 68; Daryl Mitchell 2-34, Blair Tickner 2-63).
attack, they couldn’t drive home their ascendancy as England finally managed to string some solid partnerships together.
Denly and Pope put on 90 for the sixth wicket. And when the former was dismissed by Blair Tickner, Buttler picked up where he left off to edge England in front.
The wicketkeeper quickly settled into his work and had no trouble finding the boundary, ending the day with 11 fours and three sixes.
He and Pope combined for a 114-run stand before the latter fell to the spin of Ajaz Patel.
Mitchell (2-34) and Tickner (2-63) were the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, but the attack found wickets hard to come as the day went on.
Buttler will resume today 12 runs shy of a sixth first-class century along with Jofra Archer, who was on 17 not out.
New Zealand A 302-6 dec
England 355-8