England’s Harry Brook celebrates after reaching his century (Image: Getty Images)
Harry Brook turned the tables in England’s favour with a game-changing century against New Zealand, despite early setbacks on day two in Christchurch. After dismissing the Black Caps for 348 in the morning session, England found themselves in a tight spot at 71 for four.
However, they managed to regain control, ending the day at 319 for five. Brook, who was dropped four times – on 18, 41, 70 and 106 – capitalised on his luck to finish 132 not out.
He shrugged off his errors, attacking the Kiwi bowlers with renewed vigour after each let-off, guiding his team to 319 for five at stumps. In doing so, he reached 2,000 Test runs in just 36 innings, becoming the eighth fastest of all time and second only to Herbert Sutcliffe’s record of 33 among Englishmen.
The momentum shifted during a crucial partnership of 151 with Ollie Pope, who scored an impressive 77 after stepping in as temporary wicketkeeper and moving down to number six in the order. Despite New Zealand’s sloppy fielding, Pope was dismissed by a spectacular one-handed catch from Glenn Phillips.
However, he will be pleased to have made a significant contribution after a disappointing tour of Pakistan. The top order struggled, with Zak Crawley and Joe Root both failing to score, while debutant Jacob Bethell had a challenging start, filling in for Pope at number three.
England’s Ollie Pope reacts after he was dismissed by New Zealand’s Tim Southee (Image: Getty Images)
The decision to have the 21-year-old bat in a position he has never previously attempted in first-class cricket was always going to be risky, and he was caught behind for 10 after facing a New Zealand attack who were making the new ball talk. England began the day chasing two final wickets, both of which were taken by Brydon Carse.
While Chris Woakes struggled at the other end, Carse demonstrated his skills, removing Tim Southee with a bouncer and Will O’Rourke with a classic yorker. The ball continued to dominate after the change of innings, with Crawley falling to Matt Henry after 12 scoreless deliveries.
This led to an early arrival for Bethell, whose selection in the pivotal position at three raised many eyebrows. It was a baptism of fire for the Warwickshire prospect, who had already heard two big appeals when he got off the mark with a defensive nudge off his 13th ball.
He was still on a single after 26 balls, with New Zealand not giving anything away cheaply. The introduction of fellow debutant Nathan Smith brought him out of his shell, an authoritative pull for four and a sweet cut through backward point boundary showing his attacking qualities.
However, he soon lost the battle of the new blood, nicking Smith in the awkward channel outside off. There was a brief delay as the umpires checked for a no-ball but Bethell’s day was done.
New Zealand’s Devon Conway drops a catch during play on the second day (Image: Getty Images)
Smith, meanwhile, was only getting started. Moments later, with the lunch break beckoning, he condemned Root to a duck on the occasion of his 150th cap.
The world’s top Test batter was forced onto the back foot, knocking down his stumps via bat and pad. Ben Duckett managed to make it to the break, partly due to another slip drop, scoring 46 before over-committing to O’Rourke’s bouncer.
New Zealand held all the aces and could have had England at 77 for five if Phillips had caught Brook’s first gully offering. The ball shot out from the bat’s centre, but it was a disappointing drop by a player who later demonstrated remarkable reflexes.
Brook’s next scoring shot flew alarmingly close to backward square but raced away for four, and he added six more when he leaned back and hoisted Henry into the ranks of camping chairs on the grass banks. Runs and opportunities continued to come, with Brook given a second chance on 40 when he slashed at Smith’s away swinger and Latham fumbled.
Pope was also quickly accumulating runs amid several risky moments, with both batters passing their half-centuries before tea. Brook did so in true style, smacking a flat six to deep square.
As the scoreboard ticked over, the errors persisted, with Devon Conway the latest to juggle a catch off Brook on the midwicket boundary. Just as it seemed they would never hold one, Phillips produced his moment of magic – leaping athletically to snatch a full-blooded cut out of thin air.
Pope’s hopes of a hundred were dashed, but Brook would not be stopped, galloping through the 90s with an audacious over-the-shoulder lap off Southee and a punch through point.
As the clock ticked down, New Zealand’s mistakes kept piling up. Tom Blundell missed a nick from Brook that was signalled as leg-byes, and Latham dropped his third catch when Ben Stokes (37no) hit one to cover.