Devon Conway’s assured, unbeaten 72has helped New Zealand resurrect their innings and reach 138 for 5 at Tea on Day 2 of the first Test at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, on Friday.
Resuming the second day on 37 for 3, Conway got going right away, cracking three boundaries off Stuart Broad in the first over of the day. He had the company of Neil Wagner as the duo defied James Anderson and Broad for nearly an hour in the afternoon against the relentless lines of the bowlers.
Wagner cut loose soon enough, smashing three successive short balls by Broad for a boundary and two sixes. However, the pacer had the last laugh as he dished out a slower full delivery, which Wagner flicked to Ollie Robinson at mid on. Shortly, Robinson too added to his wicket tally, trapping Daryl Mitchell legbefore for a duck as New Zealand slipped to 83 for 5.
While Blundell chose to bat defensively, Conway gave the odd charge – including going down the track and tonking Joe Root for a six – every now and then, bringing up his half-century. The duo rotated the strike well and added 55-run stand for the sixth wicket as the hosts added 101 runs in the session.
Brief Scores: England 325/9 decl. (Harry Brook 89, Ben Duckett 84; Neil Wagner 4-82, Tim Southee 2-71) lead New Zealand 138/5 (Devon Conway 70*, Neil Wagner 27; James Anderson 2-19, Ollie Robinson 2-27) by 187 runs
