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England vs New Zealand (ENG vs NZ) 2nd Test Day 1: Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley put on a 72-run opening stand which gave England the advantage in the first session of the day but the rest of the English batting order — bar Dan Lawrence (67*) — fell away to the New Zealand bowling attack on Day 1. At stumps, England were 258/7, with Lawrence and Mark Wood the unbeaten batsmen.
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After the drawn first Test at the Lord’s, England and New Zealand are taking on each other in the second Test at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on Thursday. The hosts are under pressure after debutant Ollie Robinson was suspended for his old racist and sexist tweets raked up a controversy which later became bigger after some other English players’ old tweets went viral. Meanwhile, the visitors are playing this crucial game without their regular skipper Kane Williamson because he is resting his injured elbow. Tom Latham is leading the Kiwi team while Will Young comes into the starting lineup and will bat at number three at Edgbaston.
Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.
Well well, a rare day when the bowling team gets through their 90 overs even before the stipulated time. England's 8th wicket partnership holds on till close of play. Lawrence and Mark Wood, having put on 36 runs together, will resume batting for England on Day 2 tomorrow.
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Lawrence plays a couple of glorious drives for four against Boult. Wood, at the other end, is proving to be a tough customer to shake. New Zealand have taken ineffective Reviews against him, but England's Number 9 is doing his best to hold on and give Lawrence company.
ENG 248/7
Half century for Lawrence, he is making sure England don't throw in the bucket. Receives a standing ovation from the crowd and his team-mates as he gets to the mark with a single pushed against the spinner. New Zealand take the second new ball straightaway. Boult and Matt Henry take the ball as the attack begins again.
ENG 234/7
The burgeoning partnership between Stone and and Dan Lawrence - 47 runs for the 7th wicket - is brought to an end by the spinner Ajaz Patel. Stone misses a sweep is caught lbw for 20. That will bring Mark Wood out at 9. England now down to their specialist bowlers.
ENG 222/7
Olly Stone looks to play his way in as Lawrence looks to take more of a guard as well. This partnership needs to hang on if England want to not be all out on Day 1. Daryl Mitchell and Wagner are bowling some tireless overs. A few maidens in there as well, as England look to wear the heat.
ENG 203/6
Boult gets another. James Bracey this time, gives a catch through to the slips. A 1-ball duck for him as England's collapse continues. Ollie Stone the latest member of the middle order to face the firing squad now.
ENG 180/6
Burns continues to be New Zealand's problem number one, starting off the final session with a boundary. Lawrence then strokes two boundaries in an over by Matt Henry, before the big wicket falls. Burns is gone! Boult gets him playing a catch through to Latham. Burns out for 81.
ENG 169/5
Burns (73*) ends the second session in style with his ninth boundary of the innings, but hands down, it was all New Zealand. After going wicketless in the first, they picked four big wickets in this session including Root's and Sibley's. ENG: 152/4 (56 overs)
Looking to put more pressure on the hosts before tea break, Latham sends Wagner back in to work in tandem with Ajaz Patel. But Burns (69*) leads the line well with Lawrence (8*) responsibly playing second fiddle in the partnership. ENG: 145/4 (55 overs)
Right after smacking Ajaz Patel for a four through the slips, Pope (19) succumbs! The spinner breaks the 42-run partnership between Pope and Burns with the help of Blundell, who has been rather busy in the second session. ENG: 127/4 (49.4 overs)
Facing Mitchell, Burns finally reaches his looming landmark. Fifty up for him after an easy two! The England opener is just carrying on his good form after scoring a hundred in the last Test. Five boundaries in 141 balls. Pope is on 11*. ENG: 110/3 (43.2 overs)
After some hellish five overs, Burns alleviates some pressure off the England pair's shoulders! A cracking four, slapped through the covers against Henry, helps the opener move to 49*. On the other hand, Pope is on 4*. Hundred up too! ENG: 102/3 (40 overs)
After Wagner picked up his first wicket of the Test, dismissing Crawley with a catch at the third slip, England have lost another wicket now. And it's a big one. Their skipper Root walks back to the pavilion on just 4! Henry strikes again with a caught behind with the help of Blundell after maintaining superb line and length. Next up, Ollie Pope. Burns is on 37*. ENG: 85/3 (33.5 overs)
England, having gotten off to an ideal start, will look to solidify their position as the second session starts. Henry restarts the proceedings with the ball. Sibley takes it easy and then sends one through the gap between the slips and gully. But right after his fifth boundary, he falls on 35. Edged and gone! Just the breakthrough New Zealand were looking for! ENG: 72/1 (30 overs)
After much toil and some confident fours towards the latter stages of the first session, Burns (32*) and Sibley (31*) help the hosts put on their longest opening stand in the first innings of a home Test since 2009. Back in 45 minutes. ENG: 67/0 (29 overs)
After Wagner continued with the momentum with two maidens, Sibley (25*) decided to let loose a bit. The opener punishes the pacer's full and wide deliveries for two well-timed boundaries. Later, Burns (23*) joins in on the act and smacks him for a four towards third man. Sibley again... and now it's starting to look like the start of a dominating partnership. ENG: 52/0 (20 overs)
England openers have done well to tick off the first hour. The ball was not swinging prodigiously and whatever swing was there the two batsmen have handled it well. Burns is on 10* and Sibley is on 11*. Slow and steady win the race? ENG: 25/0 (14 overs)
The England openers are taking their time to settle in at Edgbaston as they continue to comfortably see off the pace attack of the opposition. Both Burns and Sibley are on 6* while Henry, Boult make it three straight maiden overs now. ENG: 16/0 (8 overs)
Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley open the innings for England while Trent Boult starts the proceedings with the ball. After a tense five opening balls, Burns releases the pressure with a well-struck four on the final ball of the opening over. Matt Henry joins the attack and he concedes two extras. Sibley opens his account with a two after spraying a shot towards outside-off. ENG: 8/0 (2 overs)
England Playing XI: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (captain), Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, James Bracey, Mark Wood, Olly Stone, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson
New Zealand Playing XI: Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Will Young, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult
Hello and welcome to the live commentary and updates of the second Test between England and New Zealand. After visitng skipper Kane Williamson's unavailability, BJ Watling has now been ruled out with a back injury. Stay tuned for more!