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Second Test, Seddon Park, Hamilton (day one of five): |
New Zealand 173-3: Latham 101*, Taylor 53 |
England: Yet to bat |
Scorecard |
Tom Latham scored a fine century as New Zealand frustrated England’s bowlers on the opening day of the second Test in Hamilton.
The opener hit an unbeaten 101 to help the Black Caps recover from 39-2 to reach 173-3 before rain ended play early at Seddon Park.
Latham shared a third-wicket stand of 114 with Ross Taylor, who made 53, after England won the toss.
New Zealand lead 1-0 in the two-Test series.
Play will start half an hour early at 21:30 GMT on Friday to make up for the lost overs.
Stokes injury worry for England
Joe Root has often turned to his vice-captain Ben Stokes when in need of a breakthrough, but the all-rounder struggled through only two overs with the ball.
Stokes grimaced and felt his left knee during his short spell in the afternoon period, and limped back to his fielding position just before tea. He did not bowl again.
England may have compensated for Stokes’ injury with their team selection; they opted for with five seamers and no frontline spinner, which allowed for cover for Stokes.
It did, however, leave the team feeling unbalanced. Pope, playing in his fourth Test, will have batted in three different positions if he comes in at seven in England’s innings, while Crawley, arguably known as a top-order batter, will bat at six.
England were not too expensive with the ball, nor could they be accused of not trying. But it seemed as though they were missing some energy and an ability to work their way back into the game as New Zealand, once again, ground them down.
Woakes, who has struggled away from home in recent tours, was the pick of the bowlers with 2-41, while Jofra Archer bowled an entertaining spell to Latham and Taylor in the afternoon.
But, having opted to bowl first on a green pitch, England would have been hoping for more success.
‘King of the leg side’ tons up
New Zealand did not make a convincing start. Jeet Raval’s poor form continued as he flayed a Stuart Broad delivery to first slip, while captain Kane Williamson fell to a fine delivery from Woakes that was well held by Root.
It was down to Latham to steady the innings. He is quietly becoming a prolific Test opener; he averages 83 in the format in 2019 and has scored three centuries this year.
He had his luck. He was dropped by Stokes, diving to his left at second slip on 66, and overturned an lbw decision off Woakes on 49.
England fed Latham’s leg-side play throughout the day. He scored 72 of his 101 runs in that area, leading former New Zealand batsman Jeremy Coney to nickname him “the king of the leg side”.
Latham reached three figures just before tea, stepping down the pitch to Root’s part-time and crunching four through mid-on to secure his 11th Test century.
His partnership with Taylor frustrated England, with the two scoring at a decent pace, and Taylor had a moment of fortune when an on-field lbw decision was overturned by the third umpire after the technology showed a slight spike.
It was ultimately a poor shot from Taylor, edging Woakes to first slip, that ended the stand, rather than a breakthrough by the bowlers.
‘A Latham century felt inevitable’ – what they said
England bowler Steven Finn on BBC Test Match Special: “I agree with England’s decision to pick five seamers – it’s almost four and a half really because we heard grumblings in the last Test that Ben Stokes is struggling with a knee injury.”
Ex-New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney: “Latham is certainly one of those players who is accustomed to getting to big hundreds. There was a good measure of control about his innings.
“He hasn’t looked hurried. As soon as England lose their line a little bit, he’s been able to get it through.”
TMS commentator Simon Mann: “A Latham hundred felt almost inevitable for most of the day. It is a fine innings.”
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