BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – England lost nine wickets in their second innings on day three in a dramatic batting collapse to put New Zealand on the verge of victory in the second and final test at Edgbaston yesterday.
England bowled New Zealand out for 388 to start the second innings 85 runs behind but the visiting team’s bowlers, led by seamer Matt Henry, reduced the home side to 122-9 at stumps with a slender lead of 37 runs.
Henry dismissed openers Rory Burns (0) and Dom Sibley (8) early in his opening spell, with both batsmen edging the new ball to the slips.
Zak Crawley, who came in at number three, failed with the bat yet again when he was dismissed for 17, trapped leg before by Henry.
Neil Wagner then joined the party with his swing bowling, first dismissing Ollie Pope, trapped leg before for 23, while Dan Lawrence was caught behind for a duck by Tom Blundell to leave England reeling at 58-5.
Spinner Ajaz Patel then got in on the act as James Bracey (8) was bowled when he missed a pre-meditated sweep shot before skipper Joe Root (11) nicked a delivery to Blundell behind the stumps.
Mark Wood (29) provided some resistance, with a six over deep midwicket ensuring New Zealand had to bat again, but he was dismissed when he tried to pull a short ball from Wagner to give Blundell his third catch of the innings.
Olly Stone (15) and James Anderson (0) were at the crease at stumps and have a tough task of saving the match and the series when they resume the innings today.
The first test at Lord’s was drawn.
SILVERWOOD DISAPPOINTED
England coach Chris Silverwood said he was disappointed with his team’s application while batting, saying his players could learn from how the visitors put a price on their wickets.
“New Zealand have given us a lesson in how to be the number one side in the world,” he told Sky Sports.
“Our young batsman can learn off their batsman. We knew it was going to be difficult coming into this series with a young batting lineup.”
Starting day three on 229-3, Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls put on a 63-run stand before Taylor was caught behind off Stone, departing for 80 after James Bracey took a diving catch.
Soon after New Zealand took the lead, Nicholls was the next to go for 21, caught behind down the leg side after he gloved a delivery from Mark Wood.
Daryl Mitchell (6) did not last long, pulling a ball to Crawley at short mid-wicket, while Anderson had Wagner bowled for a duck after the ball clipped his pad and hit the top of off stump.
Stuart Broad picked up the last two wickets to finish with 4-48, dismissing Blundell for 34 after he edged to Root in the slips, while Patel contributed a handy 20 runs until he was trapped leg before.
