London : England took two wickets in quick succession after New Zealand’s openers shared a century stand on the second day of the first Test at Lord’s on Friday.
New Zealand were 173 for two at tea in reply to England’s first innings 345, a deficit of 216 runs, after Martin Guptill (70) and Tom Latham (59) put on 148 for the first wicket. Kane Williamson was 11 not and Ross Taylor seven not out. Just when it seemed the openers would bat through to tea, England took two wickets for no runs in three balls.
Moeen Ali succeeded where England’s quicks had failed by having Latham lbw as the left-hander tried to turn the ball leg-side. It was the end of a 95-ball innings featuring 10 fours and just New Zealand’s fifth century opening stand in a Test in England.
Latham’s innings was all the more impressive after he found himself keeping wicket for 75 overs while England batted after first-choice gloveman BJ Watling went off injured on Thursday.
Next over, 148 for one became 148 for two when Guptill carelessly drove a Stuart Broad outswinger low to Gary Ballance at cover. Guptill trudged off slowly having put himself in position to press on for a coveted hundred at Lord’s.
He faced 115 balls including eight fours and a swept six off Ali. England might, however, have seen the back of both openers when they were each in the 20s. Guptill was on 24 when he edged Mark Wood to England captain Alastair Cook at first slip. —AFP
