Led by stellar bowling from Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, and Mitchell Santner, the Black Caps dismantled England for a mere 143 runs. Kane Williamson, unbeaten on 50, and Rachin Ravindra (2 not out) will resume batting on day three, with Williamson surpassing 5000 test runs at home venues.
In their first innings, New Zealand posted 347 runs, with Santner top-scoring with a gritty 76. England’s openers started strong but faltered as Henry and O’Rourke picked up crucial wickets.
As the day progressed, England struggled against the New Zealand bowlers, with Santner and Henry wrapping up the tail quickly. New Zealand’s lead extended to 204 runs as Tom Latham and Will Young took to the crease.
Young, who had a solid innings of 60, fell short of a century once again, while O’Rourke and Ravindra faced quick dismissals. Despite some late setbacks, the Black Caps remain in a commanding position heading into day three of the test match.
