We’re capable of special run chase, insists Collingwood

PAUL COLLINGWOOD has insisted England can ‘chase anything’ to win the first Test after Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell turned it in New Zealand’s favour with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 180. The tourists will resume the third day on 236 for four, an overall lead of 227, with Mitchell on 97 and Blundell on 90, and England in desperate need of wickets with the second new ball — available after one more over — to stay in the game. But Collingwood, England’s assistant coach, said the heavy roller had robbed the Lord’s surface of any life, allowing New Zealand to recover from 56 for four in their second innings — at which point 24 wickets had fallen in the Test match for just 329 runs. ‘The way the pitch has played this afternoon should give our batsmen a lot of confidence that we can chase anything,’ Collingwood said. ‘In a Test match, if you’re not scoring up towards 500 runs in both innings, then you don’t deserve to win. So we’re going to have to put a good showing in, no matter what. ‘But the game isn’t out of our reach yet. Hopefully, the batters come back in the second innings and do something special.’