Second Rothesay Test, The Kia Oval (day two of five)
New Zealand 391: Phillips 100, Blundell 51; Bethell 3-26
England 222-6: Gay 53, Root 46; Henry 2-57, O’Rourke 2-61
England are 169 runs behind
England are in a dire position against New Zealand after spiralling from a chaotic morning on day two of the second Test at The Oval.
Following an encouraging first-day performance from a team without captain Ben Stokes, England surrendered the initiative through strange tactics, a crucial dropped catch and a wonderful maiden Test century from Glenn Phillips.
It meant New Zealand were able to move from their overnight 291-7 to 391 all out.
Though Emilio Gay made a half-century and stand-in captain Joe Root 46, England lost three wickets for 35 runs to slip to 177-5.
And when James Rew gloved the hostile Will O’Rourke late in the day, England were left 222-6, 169 behind with the tail exposed. Jordan Cox is unbeaten on 22, alongside Jofra Archer on nought.
England set the tone for their own troubles with the very first ball of the day – laying a short-ball trap for Sonny Baker bowling to Kyle Jamieson. Baker’s bouncer went for four byes and the day got worse from there.
Jamieson made a vital 41 after a horrible drop by Ben Duckett when he was on 15. Archer did not bowl for the first 90 minutes of the day, including with the second new ball, but then struck with his fourth delivery.
The home side caused another of their own problems when Duckett was run out for 36, called for a short single by Gay that was never there.
Gay and Root added 74, only for Root and Harry Brook to both be lbw to Matt Henry in a huge double blow to England.
After all the off-field controversy involving Stokes, who will play for Durham on Friday, it was to England’s credit that such an inexperienced team battled so hard on the opening day.
All that work was undone from the first delivery of day two. It might be harsh to say England missed Stokes’ captaincy, because the short-ball plan is a favourite of his, but the hosts certainly looked bereft of leaders, discipline and inspiration.
Maybe the bouncers that Baker and Josh Tongue were asked to bowl were a result of the second new ball being available three overs into the day, and maybe they would have been justified had Duckett not shelled the simple chance at deep mid-wicket.
Instead, 27 runs came from the first three overs, England were scrambled and Root had to scurry off the field to consult with head coach Brendon McCullum.
Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell bowled before Archer, whose belated introduction was explained by a need to rest after bowling an eight-over spell on the first evening. Archer was no doubt electrifying on Wednesday, but at what price?
England also failed to appeal when Henry edged Matthew Fisher behind. It was not costly in terms of runs, because Archer removed Henry before Phillips holed out. By then, the damage had been done.
Phillips deserved this century for the way he bravely came through Archer’s terrifying first-day spell.
With Phillips resuming on 49, England telegraphed their plan and Phillips was happy to take on the short ball. Jamieson was twice hit on the head in their stand of 87.
It was bizarre that Bethell was given a second new ball that was only five overs old, but he did manage to bowl Jamieson. Henry arrived to guide Phillips to his century, fittingly reached with a single off Archer. He celebrated by pointing his bat to the sky, before England took the final two wickets in the space of five balls.
While New Zealand were gifted the wicket of Duckett via Gay’s poor call and Smith’s direct hit, the rest came through the relentlessness of the tourists’ four seamers.
The quartet hunted as a pack, with the awkward O’Rourke impressive. Tom Blundell was excellent behind the stumps and, in standing up to Henry, the wicketkeeper played his part in trapping both Root and Brook on the crease for both to be leg before.
The drop of Rew, Ravindra’s third of the series, was a rare New Zealand error, but O’Rourke ensured it did not matter.