England openers fall as New Zealand march towards big win in third Test

England made a wretched start to their unrealistic chase of 658 to win the third Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy on Monday after a Kane Williamson century put New Zealand in the driving seat.

The tourists were 18-2 after openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were both removed in the six overs bowled before stumps on day three in Hamilton.

It left New Zealand, dismissed late in the day for 453, needing eight more wickets to secure a consolation victory after England easily won the first two Tests.

It may only be seven wickets required, with doubt over whether the injured Ben Stokes will bat.

The England captain is being assessed for a hamstring injury suffered while bowling which forced him to hobble immediately from the field.

Any prospect of England reaching what would be a world-record fourth-innings score were quickly quashed when Duckett charged down the pitch and played on for four.

It handed the first wicket of the match to seamer Tim Southee, playing his 107th and final Test before retiring.

Crawley was trapped lbw for five to complete a miserable series in which he fell to paceman Matt Henry in all six of his innings, totalling just 52 runs in the process.

Jacob Bethell was at the crease on nine and Joe Root was yet to score.

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Earlier, rain wiped out the entire first session at Seddon Park but it didn’t prevent Williamson advancing from his overnight 50 to a 33rd Test ton before departing for 156 soon after tea.

He put on 105 for the third wicket alongside Rachin Ravindra, who was caught for 44 off a leading edge from seamer Matthew Potts.

Williamson departed when top-edging a sweep into the deep off Shoaib Bashir (2-170).

New Zealand’s greatest run-scorer struck 20 fours and one six as he took his career tally of Test runs at Seddon Park to 1,614, the most by any batter at any New Zealand venue.

He has scored centuries in five successive Tests at what is his domestic home ground for Northern Districts, where he boasts an average of 94.94 from 21 innings.

Williamson survived a tight Brydon Carse lbw appeal review on 73 and was later dropped by wicketkeeper Ollie Pope when a difficult leg-side chance spilled from his glove off Stokes.

Daryl Mitchell was caught in the deep for 60 to hand part-time spinner Bethell a first Test wicket and, ultimately, England’s best bowling figures for the innings of 3-72.

Mitchell Santner also holed out off Root on 49 to fall just short of back-to-back half-centuries for the match.

Southee scored two in his last Test knock, failing to add to his career tally of 98 Test sixes and leaving him ranked fourth on the all-time list.

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England make one change to Playing XI for third Test against New Zealand

HAMILTON: England recalled Matthew Potts to their Playing XI on Friday to replace Chris Woakes for the third Test of the ongoing Crowe-Thorpe Trophy against New Zealand, scheduled to be played here at Seddon Park from 14 December.

Durham seamer Potts will take the new ball in the dead-rubber final Test after England clinched a first series win on New Zealand soil since 2008 with lop-sided victories in Christchurch and Wellington.

Potts has failed to nail down selection since playing the first of his nine Tests in 2022 against New Zealand at Lord’s.

He took seven wickets on debut, including twice dismissing New Zealand great Kane Williamson.

Stokes said the 26-year-old had a “massive engine” and deserved another chance in what will be an inexperienced attack.

“It’s another opportunity to look at one of the fast bowlers that we see playing a big role going forward,” Stokes said. “Two-nil up, you put yourself obviously in an easier position to make that change.”

“We want to be giving experience to the guys who don’t necessarily always get the opportunity. We’ve put ourselves in a position to be able to do that.”

It means none of England’s specialist bowlers — also comprising seamers Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson and spinner Shoaib Bashir — has played more than 14 Tests.

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Woakes has taken six wickets at an average just under 30 across the two Tests and Stokes said the 35-year-old’s form was not the reason for leaving him out.

“Chris Woakes came into the winter tours with a bit of scrutiny behind his away record but I think what he’s done has proven a lot of people wrong,” Stokes said. “He was great over in Pakistan and obviously he’s been influential here in New Zealand in the two games he’s got.”

New Zealand captain Tom Latham confirmed Will Young will start his first match of the series, opening the batting in place of Devon Conway, who stayed home to attend the birth of his first child.

However, Latham will wait to see the Seddon Park pitch on Saturday morning before finalising his starting XI.

Spinner Mitchell Santner could yet replace one of four seamers, although Latham suggested veteran bowler Tim Southee’s selection was safe for his 107th and final Test before retirement.

Latham said his players want to prove themselves after barely firing a shot so far against the aggressive playing style of the tourists.

“The guys, myself, we don’t need any motivation,” Latham said. “We know we haven’t played to our potential the last couple of games but hopefully we can put on a good showing for the fans.”

“We know the style that England play but it’s slightly different conditions here which may play its part.”

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Shoaib Bashir.

New Zealand Squad: Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy.

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Gus Atkinson joins elusive list with Test hat-trick against New Zealand

WELLINGTON: England pace bowler Gus Atkinson claimed his Test career’s first hat-trick during the second Test against New Zealand here on Saturday to join an exclusive club of bowlers.

New Zealand were struggling on 125-7 with Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith on the crease when Atkinson wrapped up their innings with a historic hat-trick.

Atkinson claimed the wickets of Smith, Matt Henry, and Tim Southee with three consecutive deliveries, marking the 15th instance of a bowler from England recording a hat-trick in Test cricket.

He uprooted Smith’s middle stump with a brilliant delivery, while Henry tried to evade a sharply rising short ball, but only managed to glove it into the hands of Ben Duckett.

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Atkinson then bowled a full and straight delivery that crashed into Southee’s front pad, dead in front of the middle stump. Southee opted for the review, but to no avail, as umpire Rod Tucker raised his finger decisively for a second time, confirming the dismissal.

It’s worth noting that Atkinson’s hat-trick was the 50th Test hat-trick in global cricket—47 in men’s matches and three in women’s.

The last English player to accomplish this feat was Moeen Ali who claimed a hat-trick against South Africa at The Oval in 2017.

Notably, Gus Atkinson is the 14th English player to join the exclusive club of hat-trick takers, joining the ranks of illustrious names such as Stuart Broad, who claimed two in his storied career.

Test hat-tricks by England bowlers

  1. Billy Bates vs Australia, Melbourne (1882/83)
  2. Johnny Briggs vs Australia, Sydney (1891/92)
  3. George Lohmann vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth (1895/96)
  4. Jack Hearne vs Australia, Leeds (1899)
  5. Maurice Allom vs New Zealand, Christchurch (1929/30)
  6. Tom Goddard vs South Africa, Johannesburg (1938/39)
  7. Peter Loader vs West Indies, Leeds (1957)
  8. Dominic Cork vs West Indies, Manchester (1995)
  9. Darren Gough vs Australia, Sydney (1998/99)
  10. Matthew Hoggard vs West Indies, Barbados (2003/04)
  11. Ryan Sidebottom vs New Zealand, Hamilton (2007/08)
  12. Stuart Broad vs India, Nottingham (2011)
  13. Stuart Broad vs Sri Lanka, Leeds (2014)
  14. Moeen Ali vs South Africa, The Oval (2017)
  15. Gus Atkinson vs New Zealand, Wellington (2024)

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England take massive lead in second New Zealand Test after Gus Atkinson hat-trick

WELLINGTON: Gus Atkinson claimed a hat-trick before England batters ran riot to power the visitors 533 runs ahead of New Zealand on Saturday and in full control of the second Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy here at Basin Reserve.

New Zealand will need to chase an enormous score in the fourth innings after England went to stumps at 378-5 on day two.

Captain Ben Stokes resisted any urge to declare, instead cementing England’s position of power as four batters posted half-centuries to build on their first-innings advantage of 155.

Joe Root was at the crease on 73 while Stokes struck a whirlwind 35 not out against a tiring attack after Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett were both dismissed in the 90s.

The fast-moving nature of the Test means the Black Caps should have ample time to reach any target, as they bid to square the three-match series after losing the opener of Crowe-Thorpe Trophy in Christchurch by eight wickets.

However, history is firmly against them. The highest successful fourth-innings chase at the Basin Reserve is 274, achieved by Pakistan against the hosts in 2003.

The hopes of New Zealand of getting back into the Test were scuppered in the opening 40 minutes of play when they lost their last five wickets to be all out 125 against a hostile England bowling attack.

Gus Atkinson (4-31) removed the last three with successive deliveries to become the first Englishman to claim a Test hat-trick since Moeen Ali against South Africa seven years ago.

The seamer was all smiles after bowling Nathan Smith for 14, then having Matt Henry caught in the gully and trapping Tim Southee lbw.

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England made batting look a lot easier, most notably when Bethell (96) and Duckett (92) combined for an untroubled 187-run second-wicket stand.

Bethell fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test ton when edging Southee to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. The 21-year-old looked crestfallen as he exited after a 118-ball knock which featured 10 fours and three sixes.

Opener Duckett was closing on his fifth Test ton when he played on off Southee (2-72), ending an innings of 112 balls.

First-Test centurion Harry Brook reached 55 before being caught in the deep off spinner Glenn Phillips while Root put some modest recent form behind him to post another batting milestone.

Root became only the fourth player to reach 50 runs in 100 different Test innings.

Ollie Pope fell for 10 off seamer Matt Henry (2-76), who earlier dismissed Zak Crawley for eight, continuing a lean series for the opener. In 19 Test innings against the Black Caps, Crawley has scored just 193 runs at an average of 10.15.

In-form England seamer Brydon Carse shapes as a key figure for the remainder of the Test, finishing with 4-46 in New Zealand’s first innings, including both overnight batters after they had resumed at 86-5.

Blundell was bowled for 16 before nightwatchman Will O’Rourke was out lbw for a 26-ball duck. New Zealand added 39 runs off 8.5 overs in the morning, with Phillips not out on 16.

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Pacers keep England on top after Brook’s ton in second New Zealand Test

WELLINGTON: New Zealand lost five wickets to be on the ropes after England posted 280 courtesy of Harry Brook’s century on the first day of the second Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy here at Basin Reserve on Friday.

New Zealand were struggling on 86-5, with England capturing the key wicket of Kane Williamson soon before stumps, leaving Tom Blundell at the crease on seven and nightwatchman Will O’Rourke yet to score.

It was a fast-moving opening day, in a similar vein to the first Test in Christchurch, which the tourists won by eight wickets in three and a half days.

Brook set the tone with his brilliant 123 off 115 balls, following on from his match-winning 171 at Hagley Oval. He again rescued England, who had crumbled in the first hour to 43-4 after being sent in on a green Basin Reserve pitch.

New Zealand top order also struggled badly against seam and bounce through an intense last 26 overs of the day against an in-form bowling attack of England.

Devon Conway was caught behind off Gus Atkinson for 11 before fellow opener Tom Latham was clean-bowled by captain counterpart Ben Stokes for 17. Rachin Ravindra departed for three, caught by a diving Brydon Carse in close off Chris Woakes.

The lively Carse (2-28) then claimed the scalp of dangerman Williamson, caught by diving wicketkeeper Ollie Pope for 37.

Daryl Mitchell, on six, snicked a second catch to Pope, down the leg side off Carse.

Williamson had survived some near scrapes early in his knock, including being bowled by a superb delivery from Carse, before the anguished seamer was found to have bowled a no-ball by overstepping the mark.

Earlier, Brook’s fifth-wicket partnership with Pope (66) proved decisive, the pair counter-punching their way out of trouble with 174 off just 158 balls.

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The stand was reminiscent of the first Test when the same pair combined for a rapid 151 to revive their first innings.

Brook was run out on the last ball of the second session after powering England out of trouble to 259-7 before the final three wickets fell quickly after tea. The in-form Brook registered his eighth century in just 23 Tests, having scored 171 at Hagley Oval a week ago.

The lanky 25-year-old’s power once again couldn’t be contained by New Zealand’s seam-heavy attack, striking five sixes and 11 fours before his concentration slipped.

He set off for a single to short midwicket but Woakes didn’t respond and Brook was caught short when bowler Nathan Smith hit the stumps in his follow-through.

O’Rourke (3-49) earlier removed Pope, who mistimed a pull shot, and the pace bowler struck again to dismiss Stokes for two, caught behind.

Smith (4-86) helped to wrap up the tail, having claimed two wickets with the new ball, along with Matt Henry (2-43).

New Zealand’s poor catching from Christchurch was quickly forgotten, snapping up three sharp chances in the opening overs.

The impressive Henry had Ben Duckett caught by a diving Latham at second slip without scoring before bowling fellow-opener Zak Crawley for 17.

Smith had both Jacob Bethell (16) and Joe Root (3) caught behind, with Mitchell grabbing a flyer with one hand at first slip to remove Root.

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ICC World Cup 2023: New Zealand win toss, elect to Field first against England

AHMEDABAD: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to field first against England in the first match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

England

Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

New Zealand

Devon Conway, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c)(wk), Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 95, New Zealand 44, England 45, Tie 2, NR 4

ODI World Cup: Matches 10, New Zealand 5, England 4, Tie 1

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Conway, Mitchell tons power New Zealand to thump England in ODI opener

CARDIFF: Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell struck unbeaten hundreds as New Zealand cruised to a dominant eight-wicket win over England in the first ODI of the four-match ODI series in Cardiff on Friday.

The Black Caps, set 292 to win, finished on 297-2 with 26 balls remaining as they went 1-0 up in a four-match series.

Opening batsman Conway was 111 not out and Mitchell 118 not out, the pair sharing an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 180 in New Zealand’s first ODI against England since their agonising Super Over loss in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s.

The teams will also face each other in the first match of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5.

“We thought England’s score was just above par, but the bowlers did well to restrict them on that surface,” said Conway at the presentation ceremony.

“We just knew that if we built those partnerships it would get us over the line.”

England captain Jos Buttler marked his 33rd birthday by top-scoring for his side with 72 in a total of 291-6.

Left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra led a disciplined New Zealand attack with 3-48.

“Disappointing, at half-way I thought we actually had a pretty good score,” said Buttler.

He added: “Credit to them (Conway and Mitchell), it was a fantastic partnership.

Looking ahead to the rest of the series, he said: “It’s a quick turnaround so we’ll give opportunities and look after guys as well.

“But we also want to play good cricket. We want to win games and we know we’re up against a good team.”

England had to wait until the 11th over for a breakthrough when leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled Will Young with his first ball to leave New Zealand 61-1.

Rashid was briefly off the field for cramp and Mitchell greeted his return with a six and a four off successive deliveries.

Left-hander Conway completed his fourth ODI hundred, off 115 balls including 13 fours.

Mitchell then hammered Rashid for 16 off three balls — two sixes separated by a four — as he went into the 90s before going to an 84-ball century.

Conway ended the match in style with a straight six off Liam Livingstone as New Zealand recorded their third successive white-ball win over England this tour after ending a Twenty20 series level at 2-2.

Buttler and the returning Ben Stokes (52) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 88 after England lost the toss.

Livingstone’s dashing 52 off 40 balls added late impetus after opener Dawid Malan made 54 as former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff returned to the England set-up by joining the coaching staff as a mentor.

Harry Brook was given another chance to push his World Cup claims after being drafted in as opener alongside Malan following injuries to Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow.

But Brook left out of the provisional squad for next month’s title defence in India, could only manage 25.

Instead, it was Malan who dominated an opening stand of 80 before being bowled off his pads for 54 by Ravindra.

Buttler, however, completed a 48-ball fifty.

Stokes, in his first ODI since reversing his retirement from the format ahead of the World Cup, went to the landmark with a six over midwicket off Ravindra only to be caught next ball when he slapped the bowler to cover.

The second ODI of the series will be played at Southampton on Sunday.

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Carse strikes on debut as England win New Zealand T20 opener

CHESTER-LE-STREET: England Twenty20 international debutant Brydon Carse took three wickets on his Durham home ground to set up a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the series opener at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old South Africa-born paceman, in for the injured John Turner, returned fine figures of 3-23 from his maximum four overs as New Zealand were held to a modest 139-9.

Left-arm quick Luke Wood also took three wickets, following an expensive first over of the match that cost 18 runs, on his way to 3-37.

Twenty20 world champions England made light of the chase, finishing on 143-3 with six overs to spare, as they went 1-0 up in a four-match series.

They lost dangerman Jonny Bairstow to just the second ball of their chase, when he edged New Zealand captain Tim Southee to slip, but otherwise England had few alarms.

Dawid Malan made 54 off 42 balls and Harry Brook an unbeaten 43 before Liam Livingstone ended the match in style by hooking Adam Milne high over deep square-leg.

Brook, a controversial omission from England’s squad for the upcoming defence of their 50-over World Cup title in India, showed his class with three sixes in his 27-ball innings, including a soaring pull off Southee.

England, however, won this match in the field, with Glenn Phillips (41) and hard-hitting opener Finn Allen (21) the only New Zealand batsmen to pass 20.

New Zealand slumped to 49-4 before Phillips revived the innings only to hole out in the deep when well caught by Sam Curran off Wood.

After New Zealand lost the toss, Allen launched the innings with three sixes in the opening over from Wood — a straight drive followed by two shots high over the legside.

But Wood, removed from the attack by Jos Buttler, returned to have Devon Conway (3) caught behind on the drive by the England captain and wicketkeeper to leave New Zealand 25-1 in the fourth over.

Carse then bowled the dangerous Allen (21) with a nip-backer as the batsman aimed legside. Wood then clean bowled Tim Seifert, also going for a big shot.

New batsman Mark Chapman hoisted leg-spinner Adil Rashid’s first ball for six only to fall for 11, defensively pushing forward, when bowled by off-spinner Moeen Ali as New Zealand’s collapse continued.

Rashid, Ali and their fellow spinner Livingstone all took one wicket apiece.

The series continues at Old Trafford on Friday.

New Zealand beat England by one run in second-Test thriller

WELLINGTON: New Zealand beat England by just one run in the second-Test thriller on Tuesday to draw the series despite having been forced to follow on in Wellington.

New Zealand set England a target of 258 runs to win, but the visitors were all out for 256 in dramatic scenes as the two-Test series finished 1-1.

Neil Wagner took the decisive wicket of James Anderson as New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell pulled off a diving catch to make history.

“Amazing achievement, hats off to everyone, everyone kept fighting.” said Wagner, who finished with 4-62.

“That’s the characteristics of this team, they played well, credit where it’s due, but we found a way of contributing.”

Blundell was delighted to hang on to the tumbling catch.

“Saw it well and luckily it went in clean. Pretty happy,” said the wicketkeeper.

It was only the fourth occasion a team has won a Test after being asked to follow on, and the first time for New Zealand.

England managed it twice, against Australia in 1894 and 1981, while India beat Australia in 2001.

It was the first time England have lost a Test after forcing their opponents to follow on.

A topsy-turvy Test match swung back to New Zealand during the final two gripping days.

England were on course for victory after declaring their first innings on 435-8, then bowling out New Zealand for 209.

Former skipper Kane Williamson dragged New Zealand back into the Test with a superb 132 in their second innings 483 on Monday, leaving England 258 to win.

Having resumed at 48-1, England wobbled Tuesday morning by losing four wickets for just 27 runs before Joe Root steadied the ship by steering his team to 168-5 at lunch.

As England chipped away at their target, Root’s partnership with Ben Stokes ended on 121 when England’s captain was caught at square leg.

The pressure on England intensified dramatically after Root went for 95 with England still 57 runs short.

Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes kept England in the fight with a cavalier 35, surviving a dropped catch by Michael Bracewell before clubbing three fours to the boundary.

After Foakes caught by Wagner in the deep off Southee, it left last pair James Anderson and Jack Leach still needing seven runs for victory.

Anderson clubbed a four to get within two runs before Wagner and Blundell combined to land the knockout punch.

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Williamson becomes New Zealand’s highest Test run-scorer

WELLINGTON: Kane Williamson called it “special” after surpassing Ross Taylor on Monday to become New Zealand’s highest Test run-scorer.

Williamson’s century steered New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington.

The 32-year-old former captain earned two standing ovations at the Basin Reserve during a superb innings which brought up his 26th Test century.

He raised his bat fleetingly after reaching 29 not out early on Monday to pass Taylor’s record of 7,683 runs.

Williamson left the field to more applause when he fell for 132 to part-time seam bowler Harry Brook.

Williamson was typically modest about his place in the history books.

“It’s not something I have thought a whole lot about but it’s an honour if you look at the names on that list,” he said.

“I admired a lot of them growing up, then played alongside some of them, but it’s special to be in that company.”

Stephen Fleming, also a former Black Caps captain, sits third on 7,172 runs.

Williamson reached the milestone in his 92nd Test and 161st innings, considerably quicker than Taylor’s 112 Tests and 196 visits to the crease.

Now-retired Taylor was quick to compliment Williamson.

“Congratulations, Kane,” Taylor posted on Twitter. “This achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication to Test cricket, of which I was privy to for a number of years.”

Williamson, a right-handed batsman, started the two-match England series needing only 39 runs to clinch the record.

But he totalled only 10 runs through his first three innings, forming part of a New Zealand top order that struggled against the English seam attack.

He sits 35th on the all-time Test leaderboard, which is topped by Indian great Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921 runs.

READ: New Zealand set England 258 to win second Test after Williamson century