New Zealand is on the brink of its first Test series victory in England since 1999 after the home side faltered in its second inning at Edgbaston; Joe Root’s side was 122-9, leading by just 37, on stumps; Watch the fourth day from 10.15 am, Sunday on Sky Sports Cricket
Joe Root’s England team is starring in defeat at Edgbaston
England are on the brink of their first home loss in a Test series since 2014 after a calamitous second-inning batting display on day three of Test 2 against New Zealand.
There were no demons on Edgbaston’s surface, but after pitching New Zealand 388, giving the visitors an 85-run lead in the first inning, the home team managed to fall to 76-7 in 27 overs.
Mark Wood (29) and Olly Stone (15th) put up some resistance late in the day, saving England the indignity of a 44-place inning loss for the eighth wicket, but the hosts finished the day 122-9, leading by With just 37 years and starring in a tough defeat.
New Zealand shared the grounds with Matt Henry (3-36) and Neil Wagner (3-18) taking three apiece as the Black Caps aim to become the first visiting team since Sri Lanka seven years ago to win a Test series. In England.
New Zealand started the day 229-3, needing another 74 runs for parity, and Ross Taylor, 46th overnight, seemed determined to eliminate that deficit quickly as he soon posted his 35th test of half a century and continued. engine with a burst of limits in the first hour.
His charge ended in the first substitution after the drinks as Stone caught him behind James Bracey for 80 and the fast pitcher should have had Tom Blundell the same way later in the finale, only for the goalie to drop the catch as you go. with one hand to the right.
New Zealand had taken the lead when Wood (2-85) represented Henry Nicholls (21), but when James Anderson (1-68) pitched Wagner (0), shortly after Stone (2-92) had sacked Daryl Mitchell (6), to claim his first field of his record-breaking 162nd Test, the lead was minimal and England had momentum.
Blundell (34) was the ninth wicket to fall with the lead at 58 but before the impressive Stuart Broad (4-48) completed things with his fourth wicket, Ajaz Patel (20) and Trent Boult (12th) had managed to add a Quickfire 27 for the last wicket and further strengthen New Zealand’s position.
At teatime, his control over the game was akin to a vice when Henry bounced off Rory Burns’ second ball, superbly caught by Tom Latham on the second slip, before Dom Sibley took it at third, four overs later.
Zak Crawley (17) played a couple of classy drives on either side of the break before being lbw for Henry and after Ollie Pope (23) and Joe Root briefly threatened to save innings, the former was pinned up front by Wagner , the lbw DRS confirmed the decision at the request of the referee and the procession really began.
Dan Lawrence got behind the second ball to give Wagner the second, James Bracey (8) scored his first test runs but then crawled while trying to sweep Patel (2-25) and, having dug 61 balls, Root he succumbed to the left arm spinner when he was caught behind making a cut.
Wood played a few shots while he and Stone at least made sure New Zealand had to hit again, but Wagner ended an entertaining partnership; Wood sent the ball up as he tried to throw it over the side of his leg.
Boult (1-34) dropped Broad in the next over and, although Stone and Anderson survived the last couple of overs before closing, New Zealand is confident of a well-deserved victory, both in the match and in the series, in the day. four.
Watch the fourth day of the second test between England and New Zealand from 10.15am, Sunday on Sky Sports Cricket.
