England and New Zealand are clashing against each other in the first match of the two-match Test series in Mount Maunganui on Thursday, February 16. Both New Zealand and England already failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. England have already completed their games, while the hosts have a home series against Sri Lanka to go.
Meanwhile, during the first innings, former England skipper Joe Root played a brilliant reverse scoop shot against Neil Wagner in the 24th over. The ball went to the boundary over the slips. However, Root once again tried to play the same shot against Wagner in the 28th over but he didn’t get the execution right as the ball went low off the under-edge and Daryl Mitchell in the first slip took a good diving catch and sent Root back to the dressing room, he scored 14 runs off 22 deliveries.
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Look at Joe Root, he did hit a four off this shot earlier but it's Test cricket and they had fielders there 🤦♂️ #NZvENGpic.twitter.com/9IXyUs5md6
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 16, 2023
England continued the Bazball tactics
Talking about the match, New Zealand opted to bat first after winning the toss. Tim Southee provided the early dismissal as he took Zak Crawley’s wicket in the 3rd over of the first innings. However, opener Ben Duckett gave England a perfect start as he played an outstanding knock of 84 runs off 68 deliveries at a strike rate of 123.53 which included 14 fours. Ollie Pope came to bat at no. 3 and supported him well as they both stitched a beautiful 99-run stand but eventually got dismissed at 42.
England skipper Ben Stokes and Root failed to score big but Harry Brook once again showed his ability and continued the acceleration as he smashed another half-century in the longest format. However, he fell short off his well-deserved century as he got dismissed on the scored 89 runs which came off just 81 deliveries, he smashed 15 fours and 1 six during his scintillating innings.
Wagner bowled brilliantly as he picked up 4 wickets. New Zealand skipper Southee and Scott Kuggeleijn both picked up 2 wickets each. Meanwhile, England came up with a shocking decision as they declared their innings with one wicket left on the first day on 325 runs.
