Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 92 rounded off a fine day’s work for New Zealand in the first Test against England at Lord’s on Friday.
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The Black Caps ended the second day well-placed at 303 for two, just 86 runs behind England’s first innings 389.
Williamson and Ross Taylor (47 not out) had so far shared an unbroken stand of 155 after coming together when the tourists had lost two wickets with their score on 148.
But Williamson was given a reprieve late in the day when he went down the pitch to off-spinner Moeen Ali on 92 only for Jos Buttler, still more of a batsman than a wicketkeeper, to miss the stumping chance, albeit the ball spun sharply.
Stumps day 2 at Lord’s: @englandcricket 389 @BLACKCAPS 303-2 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/4K1LpLqF9M
— ECB (@ECB_cricket) May 22, 2015
Now the stylish number three will hope to avoid the fate of England duo Joe Root and Ben Stokes, both out in the 90s on Thursday.
By contrast, with the new ball available after three overs’ play on Saturday, England will aim for an early breakthrough.
“It’s New Zealand’s day, definitely. They batted really well and we found it hard to take wickets,” Ali told Sky Sports. “Jimmy (Anderson) bowled quite well this morning, and Stuart (Broad), but maybe a little short on that pitch.
“We’re not too far from the new ball tomorrow so hopefully we can make some inroads,” added Ali, who ended the day with figures of one for 52 in 17 overs.
Moeen Ali thinks England can fight back with the second new ball in the morning. QUOTES: http://t.co/B5Xc0eDJln pic.twitter.com/LKzCRVzIGB
— ECB (@ECB_cricket) May 22, 2015
New-ball spearhead Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, conceded 46 runs in 16 wicketless overs yesterday.
Earlier, Martin Guptill made 70 in his first Test in two years and was well-supported by Tom Latham (59) during what was just New Zealand’s fifth century opening partnership in a Test in England.
On a sunny day, and without much movement, England found life tough, with captain Alastair Cook not often straying from orthodox field settings.
The 24-year-old Williamson drove down the ground impressively and also used the cut shot to good effect in the first of this two-match series.
His fifty came in good time, off 78 balls with six fours. England resumed on 354 for seven, having been 30 for four on Thursday before a fifth-wicket stand of 161 between Root (98) and Stokes (92) revived the innings.
But they lost their final three wickets for just 37 runs in 10.5 overs. Left-arm paceman Trent Boult (four for 79) and debutant fast bowler Matt Henry (four for 93) leading the way.
