Zak Crawley Blair Tickner Tim Southee Neil Wagner Michael Bracewell New Zealand bowling diving on as Zak Crawley Blair Tickner Tim Southee Neil Wagner Michael Bracewell New Zealand

England 134-2 as 'Bazball' pounds New Zealand on day one

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Ben Duckett blasted a rapid-fire half-century as England raced to 134 for two at tea on day one of the first test against a New Zealand side that felt the full force of 'Bazball' early on at Mount Maunganui on Thursday.Opener Duckett charged to a 36-ball fifty and appeared century-bound on a sunny afternoon at Bay Oval after New Zealand captain Tim Southee won the toss and elected to field for the venue's first day-night test.However, Duckett was caught for 84 from 68 balls driving the pink ball straight to Michael Bracewell at short mid-off, gifting debutant paceman Blair Tickner his first test wicket.It was late relief for New Zealand, having endured 14 boundaries off the opener who shared a 99-run partnership with number three Ollie Pope.Pope was 30 not out, with Joe Root on nine at the break, the run-rate nudging six runs an over.Barring a probing salvo of swing from Southee in his first spell, it was a poor showing by the home bowlers, with Neil Wagner especially struggling for control.Wagner bowled Zak Crawley with his first delivery in the second over but it was a no-ball wicket, with the seamer having overstepped his mark.Crawley was also reprieved second ball in Southee's first over when a diving Bracewell put down a tough, one-handed chance at third slip.Southee soon had Crawley caught for four, with Bracewell making amends with an easier catch in the slips.New Zealand opted for a four-prong pace attack, with Scott Kuggeleijn the second test debutant in the 11.England, who have won nine out of their last 10 tests, are bidding to win their first test series in New Zealand since 2008.

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One run was England’s margin of victory on July 14, 2019 in the ODI World Cup at Lord’s. One run was the margin of New Zealand’s victory over England at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand on February 28, 2023.
One run was England’s margin of victory on July 14, 2019 in the ODI World Cup at Lord’s. One run was the margin of New Zealand’s victory over England at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand on February 28, 2023.
New Zealand scripted a beautiful story to become the fourth team to secure a Test victory after facing a follow-on. Each player stepped up when the moment demanded it. Kane Williamson and Neil Wagner played a pivotal role in making this test match a classic one. After being put into bat by New Zealand captain Tim Southee, England put up a blistering performance in the first innings of the second Test. On the back of hundreds from Harry Brook (186) and Joe Root (153*), they got to 435/8 in merely 87.1 overs. England's bowlers then got into the act to bundle out the Kiwis for 209. England skipper Ben Stokes enforced the follow-on.
New Zealand defeated England in one of the tightest finishes in Test history, triumphing by a solitary run in Wellington as they became just the fourth side ever to win a game after following on.
New Zealand on Tuesday edged out England by 1 runs to win the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and levelled the two-match series at 1-1. Neil Wagner was the star of the show for the Kiwis as he bagged a four-wicket haul, including the decisive wicket of James Anderson. With England needing two just two runs to sweep the series, Wagner targetted Anderson with short balls and was rewarded with it as New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell pulled off a diving catch to make history.
New Zealand beat England by just one run in a second-Test thriller on Tuesday to draw the series despite having been forced to follow-on in Wellington. With the win, New Zealand became just the third team (after England and India) to win a Test match after following on. It was only the fourth occasion a team has won a Test after being asked to follow on. England managed it twice, against Australia in 1894 and 1981, while India beat Australia in 2001. New Zealand set England a target of 258 runs to win, but the visitors were all out for 256 in dramatic scenes as the two-Test series finished 1-1.

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