New Zealand vs England, 1st Test: New Zealand-England Finely Poised After Tom Blundell Century

17.02.2023 - 14:43 sports.ndtv.com

A Tom Blundell century for New Zealand and two late England batting stumbles left the first Test tantalisingly poised at Mount Maunganui on Friday.

The tourists held a 98-run lead with eight second-innings wickets in hand and still three days to play in a fast-moving day-night Test at the Bay Oval.

Blundell's career-best 138 steered his side to 306 and just 19 runs short of England's 325-9 declared. The delicate nature of the contest didn't prevent the tourists playing their shots, although they lost openers Ben Duckett, for 25, and Zak Crawley, for 28, in reaching 79-2 off 16 overs.

England's best bowler, Ollie Robinson (4-54), said the honours were "pretty even in the end" after his side dominated day one with their aggressive batting before reducing the Black Caps to 37-3.

cricket England Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team Test Ollie Robinson Stuart Broad Zak Crawley Tom Blundell New Zealand

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