Second LV = insurance test, Trent Bridge (day two) New Zealand 553: Mitchell 190, Blandle 106England 90-1: Pope 51 *, Lees 34 * Score
Daryl Mitchell’s top 190 gave New Zealand full control of the second test against England on the second day of Trent Bridge.
Mitchell’s blow, with 106 from Tom Blundell and 49 from debutant Michael Bracewell, brought tourists to 553 all.
This is the third largest general meeting England has ever allowed since the insertion of the opposition, and the largest in 33 years.
Mitchell, who was eliminated at 3 on Friday, also took advantage of the fact that Matthew Potts left him at 104.
England lost Zack Crowley by just four, but recovered to 90-1, with Ollie Pope at 51 and Alex Lees at 34.
Mitchell repaid England’s generosity with two of his own drops in the first slip, one for Lees and Pope.
England will start on Sunday 463 later, looking for a way to somehow maintain their 1-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand cash
After their first-day mistakes – putting New Zealand in the bat and then missing four catches – there was always a danger that England would be forced to pay on Saturday.
After Mitchell and Blundle went through a morning blast with a second new ball that was just seven overs, New Zealand took full advantage of the ideal wadding conditions.
There were early warning signs that England could lose the plot – Mitchell’s fall from the Pots was bad, mistakes slipped into the pitch and captain Ben Stokes did not come into play until almost 90 minutes of the day.
However, the hosts stuck to their task, exhausting various plans in the hope that they might eventually find their way through New Zealand cotton. At one stage, they were awarded three gates in the space of seven balls.
Even on such flat terrain, there were concerns that England’s cotton wool would disintegrate after their long stay on the ground – they had withered under similar circumstances in many cases in the recent past.
If Mitchell held the grip, the hosts would be in great danger, but having nine gates in hand on the third morning gave them the opportunity to push into a far safer position.
The magnificent Mitchell grows up
Mitchell might not have played in this series if Henry Nichols had not been excluded from the first test, but he took advantage of the opportunity for centuries on consecutive Saturdays.
Blundell missed three figures in Lord’s, but this time he made no mistake, becoming the first New Zealand goalkeeper to make a penny test in England.
From 318-4 overnight, with Mitchell renewing 81 and Blundell 67, they extended their partnership with a fifth door to 236 – a New Zealand record against anyone.
They were both determined to attack the spinning Jack Leach. Mitchell made his score from six to four with two goals over a long time, where he was also missed by Potts. Blundell finished his hundredth from the same bowler before going wrong in the middle.
Mitchell then added 91 confidently to Bracewell, and the board rattled after lunch. With outfielders scattered everywhere, it was only when Bracewell overtook James Anderson to slip that England had a hole.
Mitchell was last, chasing a wide of the Pots as he approached the double century. He left with his highest first class result, congratulations from the English players and recognition from the audience at Trent Bridge.
England is starting a long way back
If the Pots don’t drop out, it’s hard to think of what England could have done differently given the situation they found themselves at the start of the day.
Leftist Leach was again struggling to respond to the New Zealand attack, but at least he got his first home door in exactly 1,000 days.
Broad, who played a day after the pub, which he owns, was badly damaged in a fire, took the door of Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southy to fix some payouts for two catches missed by his bowling alley on Friday.
Crowley’s anxious habit of falling behind continued as he cracked Trent Boult, but Lees and Pope mixed beautiful shots with moments of luck in their 84th position.
Lees was 12 when Mitchell reduced the lead over Southee, leaving the left-hander to drive well with his highest test score.
Pope hooked up two sixes – one at the top – before slipping Boult to 37 and dropping into what was probably supposed to catch goalkeeper Blundell.
Only in his third inning of his new position number three, Pope moved to half a century of 66 balls, his first for England last September.
“The pressure is on Crowley,” they said
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell in Test Match Special: “I’m not too worried about the pair – it was just nice to get a result that helped us get a result that could win our test match. It was very rewarding to get the individual achievement, but also to help the boys. “
England striker Marcus Trescotic in Test Match Special: “We hope for a great result from the first inning. The strange case when they put the ball in the right zone becomes small. You still have to work hard even though you feel good. You can be challenged if you don’t concentrate.
“We have to go back tomorrow and do what we did tonight.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughn for Zack Crowley: “The pressure is on him. I think he can play – he has a future at the test level, but he needs results.
“He will know in his mind that he needs to run pretty fast.
“He’ll see the series, but he has three innings left, and I think he may need a decent number in his name.”
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