Harry Brook. (Source – Getty Images)
On Day 2 of the first Test between New Zealand and England, the hosts added 29 more runs and were bundled up for 348. England lost Zak Crawley early as the opener departed scoring a duck. Debutant Jacob Bethell followed suit scoring just 10 runs as Joe Root too registered a duck with England reeling on 45 for three. Ben Duckett, who was looking good having scored 46 runs, was outdone by William O’Rourke.
The visitors were 71/4 as Harry Brook and Ollie Pope stitched a crucial stand of the fifth wicket. The duo put up a partnership of 145 runs before Pope holed out to Glenn Phillips via Tim Southee. He scored a resilient knock of 77 off just 98 balls laced with eight boundaries. Brook was joined by England skipper, Ben Stokes and the duo started to rebuild the innings.
Both the batters have put up an unbeaten stand of 97 runs for the for the sixth wicket. Meanwhile, Brook brought up his seventh Test century and will resume Day 3 at 132 runs off 163 balls. He has smashed 10 boundaries and two maximums. On the other hand, Stokes has scored 37 off 76 so far with the help of four boundaries.
England trail by just 29 runs at the end of Day 2 and they would like to extend their lead to exert pressure on the Kiwis. For New Zealand, Tim Southee, Matt Henry and William O’Rourke picked one wicket each, while Nathan Smith chipped in with two wickets. Day 3 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch will decide the course of the match and the partnership between Brook and Stokes would be crucial for the visitors.
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Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to Day 2’s game:
Harry Brook’s sublime century narrowed the gap between England and New Zealand in Christchurch 👏 #WTC25 | 📷 #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/b5GRjVo16u
— Asad (@mrxonu7) November 29, 2024
The flying man 🤯
New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips takes a stunner at the Gully against England! #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/GjuYkLxhhD— Yasir tunio (@YasiirTunio) November 29, 2024
England’s day.
The Brook and Pope partnership was crucial after New Zealand got them four down early, and Stokes played well in the evening session to keep Brook company until the end of play.
— Rivaan Athwal (@rivaanathwal31) November 29, 2024
England finish Day 2 with 319/2 only 29 behind
That’s some recovery after being 71/4
Harry Brook loves playing in New Zealand…
He has 4 centuries in Pakistan, 2 in New Zealand and one in England #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/QlYMxZAooN
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) November 29, 2024
Another day, another hundred for Harry Brook..!!!🌟
– 4 Hundreds in Pakistan.
– 2 Hundreds in New Zealand.
– 1 Hundred in England.Look at his Test numbers, “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭” – Harry Brook . 🏴#ENGvNZL #NZvsENG #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/JuBpXOWhYs
— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) November 29, 2024
#OlliePope surpasses 3000 Test runs! 👏 After a lean patch since his 154 against Sri Lanka in September, he has rediscovered some form in New Zealand with a vital knock of 77. England will be hoping for more of this from him! #HagleyOval #NZvENG #ENGvNZ #BlackCaps… pic.twitter.com/cavYBnToMT
— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk) November 29, 2024
– 4 Hundreds in Pakistan.
– 2 Hundreds in New Zealand.
– 1 Hundred in England.THE STAR IN MAKING, HARRY BROOK FROM ENGLAND….!!!! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Fe1pfPb3xW
— JassPreet (@JassPreet96) November 29, 2024
A HUNDRED FOR HARRY BROOK..!
– Brook shesmed hundred vs New Zealand 100* runs in 123 balls with 9 fours & 2 sixes brilliant knock hundred numbers 7th in test cricket – THE STAR OF ENGLAND CRICKET.. pic.twitter.com/xFBDw1HRwH
— MANU. (@Manojy9812) November 29, 2024
Harry Brook, an emerging talent from England, boasts an impressive record of 4 hundreds in Pakistan, 2 hundreds in New Zealand, and 1 hundred in England.#NZvENG #NZvsENG pic.twitter.com/fq0pg2wYkV
— Sachin Tomar (@SachinTomar9507) November 29, 2024