05/12Result
2nd Test, England tour of New Zealand at Wellington, Dec 6-8 2024
England won by 323 runs
Player of the Match
Harry Brook
Harry BrookEngland
05/12Result
2nd Test, England tour of New Zealand at Wellington, Dec 6-8 2024
England won by 323 runs
Player of the Match
Harry Brook
Harry BrookEngland

11.30am: Another fabulous knock from Joe Root, although he misses out on the red ink. Ahsan Raza is actually checking the catch here - looks like the ball started to squirm free of Blundell's right glove, but he got the left one safely around and underneath as he went to ground. So, New Zealand have been set 583 to win - safe to say that would be a world record chase - or the job of batting almost nine sessions for a draw. Where's your hard-earned? Back shortly for the start of the NZ innings

82.3
W
O'Rourke to Root, OUT, edged, and Blundell hangs on! Superb diving catch off a thick deflection... and with that, England have declared! Root and Stokes charge off, all set to begin their effort in the field. O'Rourke finishes with 1 for 104, scandalous figures given how well he bowled

JE Root c †Blundell b O'Rourke 106 (208m 130b 11x4 0x6) SR: 81.53

82.2
0
O'Rourke to Root, no run, punched into the covers

Takes the partnership to 100, too

82.2
5nb
O'Rourke to Root, (no ball) FOUR, full and pongoed down the ground! High elbow, hold the pose, the ball disappearing over long-off... and O'Rourke has overstepped, too
82.1
4
O'Rourke to Root, FOUR, brings up his hundred with the Root reverse-ramp! Cheeky boy... it almost didn't come off, leaving him on his backside and scrambling. Looks like the ball went off the glove, on replay. But he's all smiles as it bounces away over Blundell for Test hundred No. 36

Right then, Root on 98

END OF OVER:
82 | 6 Runs | ENG: 418/5

  • Ben Stokes49 (42b)
  • Joe Root98 (126b)
  • Matt Henry18-0-100-2
  • Will O’Rourke18-0-95-0
81.6
2
Henry to Stokes, 2 runs, pitched up, Stokes whips it off his pads into the gap for two
81.5
0
Henry to Stokes, no run, short and slapped, can't get it through

"Three big Tests going on simultaneously too much for the Cricinfo tech?" Something like that, Peter

81.4
1
Henry to Root, 1 run, goes full, Root is forward on off, dinks a drive into the gap at midwicket
81.3
1
Henry to Stokes, 1 run, full length, 138kph/86mph and wellied through the off side. Stokes shakes his head, no timing on the shot again
81.2
1
Henry to Root, 1 run, shimmies down to met a 131kph/81mph short ball, cracked on the pull to deep midwicket
81.1
1
Henry to Stokes, 1 run, flung full outside off, Stokes reaches out and toe-ends one through the covers

END OF OVER:
81 | 6 Runs | ENG: 412/5

  • Joe Root96 (124b)
  • Ben Stokes45 (38b)
  • Will O’Rourke18-0-95-0
  • Matt Henry17-0-94-2

"Enjoying watching the live text catch up, it was like simming forward on cricket captain back in the day." To be honest, Ed, we're probably running on similarly ancient (but usually robust) technology

80.6
0
O'Rourke to Root, no run, lovely line from O'Rourke, Root is nearly caught betwixt and between - but it misses the edge
80.5
1
O'Rourke to Stokes, 1 run, short from round the wicket, possibly a change-up, 122kph. Stokes is taken by surprise and can only deflect one with an angled bat behind square
80.4
1
O'Rourke to Root, 1 run, pitched up and squirted uppishly through the gully on the drive

And we are back... Just as NZ take the new ball!

80.3
4
O'Rourke to Root, FOUR, straight line, whistled away with a turn of the wrists! Uses the pace on the ball as he glances off the pads, beats fine leg for four more. This 36th hundred is rapidly hoving into view
80.2
0
O'Rourke to Root, no run, length ball, sharking in at Root as he looks to dab the ball late, ends up under-edging narrowly past his off stump
80.1
0
O'Rourke to Root, no run, back of a length, 141kph and skidding on, Root takes a blow on the hip

The second new ball is available for NZ (if they want it). Seems like they'll stick with the old one for now

END OF OVER:
80 | 12 Runs | ENG: 406/5

  • Joe Root91 (119b)
  • Ben Stokes44 (37b)
  • Matt Henry17-0-94-2
  • Will O’Rourke17-0-89-0
79.6
1
Henry to Root, 1 run, pitched up, swinging a touch, 125kph/77mph and driven smoothly through cover point
79.5
4
Henry to Root, FOUR, slower ball, donked over extra cover and away! Phillips thought he might have been in the game but Root had enough on it to clear his fingertips
79.4
1
Henry to Stokes, 1 run, pitched up on middle and leg, Stokes whips it away through midwicket
79.3
1
Henry to Root, 1 run, dabbed down for one more, that's the England 400
79.2
4
Henry to Root, FOUR, skips down, hoicked over mid-on! Solid connection, an unceremonious thump and it sails away on the bounce
79.1
1
Henry to Stokes, 1 run, back of a length in the corridor outside off, Stokes clumps it through the covers

I may be talking to myself here, but we're having some technical issues with scoring - so bear with us

END OF OVER:
79 | 4 Runs | ENG: 394/5

  • Ben Stokes42 (35b)
  • Joe Root81 (115b)
  • Will O’Rourke17-0-89-0
  • Matt Henry16-0-82-2
78.6
1
O'Rourke to Stokes, 1 run, full in the channel, Stokes bunts one more through the covers
78.5
1
O'Rourke to Root, 1 run, fullish on the stumps, 142kph/88mph and nurdled into the leg side for one

Root is going to undergo a quick concussion test, but he is indicating he is fine

78.4
0
O'Rourke to Root, no run, banged in, 141kph/88mph and Root takes a blow on the helmet. Think it came off his forearm and then up into the stemguard on the right side of his head

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New Zealand 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st9DP ConwayTWM Latham
2nd16KS WilliamsonTWM Latham
3rd8TWM LathamR Ravindra
4th26DJ MitchellR Ravindra
5th47DJ MitchellTA Blundell
6th35TA BlundellGD Phillips
7th96TA BlundellNG Smith
8th10MJ HenryNG Smith
9th7TG SoutheeNG Smith
10th5TG SoutheeW O'Rourke