Only twice before have opponents made more than 553 in New Zealand after being sent from England, but Stokes is not the type to dwell on decisions. He was calm enough to sign autographs as he moved to the edge of his leg. Who says a test captain is stressful? He knows that New Zealand’s total number should have been much lower, given that catches fell on the first day.
Daryl Mitchell was guilty of two omissions in the English innings, a sitter against Lees at 12 and a harder chance on Pope’s left, but he will be released from any fines for missed catches after the best 190 in his career.
It was a composed, attractive inning of stylish strokes. Yes, he was missed twice, first by Joe Route at three, and went through an empty third pass on the first day, but he punished England for their mistakes mercilessly.
His second hundred in the series was the highest score in his professional career with 190, including 23 fours and four sixes, the best of which were gloriously hit on the ground by Jack Leach.
Tom Blundell joined him with a century, their position of 236 set a record for New Zealand for the fifth door and just a week after 195 set in the Lord’s.
New Zealand’s total was the highest in England, with opponents struggling to swing the ball and instead being forced to try dry runs.
Matthew Potts suffered a tough second test, dropping Mitchell at 104 and following the numbers in a game of seven for 68 at Lord’s with one for 126 of 30 overs. He bore the brunt of working harder than any other sailor to pay for bowling with James Anderson and Stuart Broad. They played only nine and eight overs on the second day and were out of the attack a little over half an hour in the morning after it became clear that the second new ball was not swinging. Broad’s mind was no doubt elsewhere, coming to terms with the news that the pub he owned had been destroyed by fire overnight.
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