ENG vs NZ Day2: The Lord’s is Test cricket and it is getting better as each day passes. The first Test being played between Newzealand and England saw some dramatic moments from 17 wickets on the first day of the match to another 6 in wickets early on in Day 2, the Newzealand have finally found things to control at the Mecca.
Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell put on a show with the bat on the second day to totally transform the game’s complexion and put New Zealand in command at Lord’s. The two batters combined for a stunning 180* run stand that pushed the lead to above 200 runs, and with the surface looking to have eased out completely, the home team could be in for more misery.
After a dramatic collapse on the first evening, England resumed on Friday still 16 runs behind in the first innings. They were eight down in the second over of the day, when Broad came in to hit a couple of boundaries. That didn’t last as long as soon the tailenders lost their wickets. Matthew Parkinson, the concussion replacement, helped England to a nine-run first-inning lead.
The day may have started with New Zealand fetching wickets early on and shifting towards calling the session theirs, but it was still a long way to go. Coming to bat in the second innings, Newzealand batting order again toppled, and how! Anderson again started his day with an early wicket of Will Young. Williamson and Tom Latham, New Zealand’s two most experienced batters, briefly drew the sting of Anderson and Broad’s opening spells but as soon as young Potts was brought in, they lost their control.
With the Kiwis again losing 3 for 35 and after the lunch lost Conway cheaply, it felt like they are down for another mishap. Apparently, their 5th wicket stand duo had other plans. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell put up a great display of batting as they scored beautiful 90s each and are still at the crease with Mitchell at 97 and Blundell at 90, giving Newzealand a whopping 236 runs lead at the end of the second day. The lead that looked impossible must be enjoyed by Newzealand as they will look on to adding 150 odd runs more.
England bowlers who were looking as lethal as innings 1 on day 2 as well seemed to have lost all the control after the lunch. With pitch changing dramatically to Matt Parkinson still failing to take a wicket in his ‘debut’ match, things don’t seem to be going well in favor of England. As they resume their game on Day 3, all they will hope for is to break this humongous partnership brewing between the young Newzealand batters.
