England lead New Zealand by 98 runs after day two of pink-ball Test | Cricket News

England lost two late wickets but scored quickly under the lights as they ended day two of the day-night first Test against New Zealand with a lead of 98.

New Zealand had slumped to 37-3 from 18 overs in the final session on day one but England played in more aggressive fashion while the floodlights were on, rattling along at a lick under five runs an over as they closed on 79-2 with Ollie Pope 14 not out and nighthawk Stuart Broad unbeaten on six.

Ben Duckett (25 off 27) and Zak Crawley (28 off 39) were caught behind off Blair Tickner and Scott Kuggeleijn respectively after sharing an opening partnership of 52 inside 10 overs.

Broad would have joined them but bowler Kuggeleijn and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell left a catch for each other after the England man spooned a short ball into the on-side.

England – who plundered 325-9 declared inside 59 overs on the opening day – would have been eyeing a far more substantial advantage when they reduced New Zealand to 83-5 in Friday’s opening session, only for Blundell (138 off 181) propel the Black Caps to 306 all and a first-innings deficit of just 19.

Blundell scored the first hundred by a wicketkeeper in a day-night Test and was involved in three half-century partnerships, including a stand of 53 with last man Tickner (3no off 24).

It was a milestone day for Blundell but also for James Anderson (3-26) and Broad (1-72) as the England seamers became the joint most prolific partnership in Test history by claiming their 1,001st wicket in tandem, matching the record of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

More to follow.