Eng vs NZ 1st Test: Harry Brook’s 132 turns the tide for England on Day 2

England’s Harry Brook celebrates after scoring a century during play on the second day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on November 29, 2024
| Photo Credit: AP

Harry Brook posted his seventh test century and shared a 151-run fifth-wicket partnership with Ollie Pope on Friday which changed the course of the first Test between England and New Zealand on its second day.

Brook was 132 not out, Ben Stokes 37 was and England was 319-5 at stumps, only 29 runs behind New Zealand whose first innings ended earlier in the day at 348.

The extent to which Brook and Pope altered the course of the match was evident in the fact England was 45-3 when Brook came to the crease after losing two wickets in three balls before lunch. It was 71-4 when Pope joined Brook and 222-5 when Pope was out for 77 in the final session.

The magnitude of Brook’s innings was increased by the fact batting was never easy at any stage at Hagley Oval on Friday. It was tough when the ball was new, as it was when New Zealand resumed its innings at 310-8 with the second new ball only three overs old.

It was tough when Nathan Smith, on debut, dismissed Jacob Bethell (10) in his first and Joe Root in his 150th inside three balls in only his second over in test cricket.

Pope-Brook partnership

Throughout the day, even as it aged, the ball continued to ping around and few batters looked settled. But Pope and particularly Brook batted with a boldness which overcame the authority of the bowlers.

Still, it was never easy. Brook was dropped on 18 by Glenn Phillips in the gully, on 41 by Tom Latham at first slip, on 70 by Devon Conway in the deep and on 112 by Tom Blundell off Matt Henry.

Brook had no time for self-reproach. He shrugged off those nervous moments to reach his half century from 65 balls with the second six of his innings from the bowling of Will O’Rourke. Pope posted his 50 only two overs later from 58 balls and with seven fours.

The 100 partnership came from only 112 balls, the 150 partnership from 188 balls.

Catch by Phillips

While New Zealand’s catching had been poor, it was redeemed in the 53rd over by the brilliant catch Phillips took at gully to dismiss Pope.

Tim Southee tempted Pope with a ball wide of off stump and the batter went at it with full force. It flew wide of Phillips who dived full length and hung suspended above the ground as he clutched the ball in his right hand.

Brook went on to his century from 123 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Stokes, who joined him on Pope’s dismissal began in his shadow, taking only one run from the first 16 balls he faced.

Earlier, Phillips resumed at 41 not and put on 27 for the ninth wicket with Tim Southee and 23 for the last wicket with O’Rourke as New Zealand lifted its total from 319-8 overnight to 348. Phillips reached his fifth half century from 77 balls.

New Zealand then removed Zak Crawley (0) in the fourth over of the England innings, then Bethell and Root in quick succession. Smith had Bethell caught behind by Blundell while Root had faced only four balls when he chopped a shorter delivery back onto his stumps.

“We judge ourselves by the chances we create and we created enough out there. A couple of catches go to hand and it’s a completely different story,” Smith said. “They got a couple of good partnerships there and we need to break it with the new ball tomorrow.”

“It’s just about trying to control the run-rate which is tough against these guys.” England scored throughout the day at more than four runs per over.

Ben Duckett batted well to reach 46 from 62 balls before playing a loose pull short which was caught by Conway at deep square.

England was 71-4 but had improved by team to 174-4 as it added 129 runs in the second session for the loss of only one wicket.

The partnership between Brook and Stokes was worth 97 runs by stumps.